Porter County Parks & Recreation Welcomes Visitors to Come Explore Brookdale Park

Porter County Parks & Recreation Welcomes Visitors to Come Explore Brookdale Park

Brookdale Park was originally Brookdale Farm, owned by the Michaels family. Porter County Parks & Recreation acquired the land in 2010 from Barney Michaels, partially funded by a grant from the Lake Michigan Coastal Program, a program of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This small park is located at 919 N. 50 W. in Liberty Township. It is open from dawn to dusk.

The park land is still partially used as an agricultural field, but trails circle the field and lead to the back of the park where visitors will find a large fishing pond. This catch-and-release pond is home to large mouth bass, crappies, blue gill, and carp. In the past, Porter County Parks & Recreation has hosted kids’ fishing programs at the pond, and will undoubtedly do so again in the future. All are welcome to fish the pond. In the Fall, Brookdale Park is also home to the Porter County Parks & Recreation hunting program.

Brookdale Park is a work in progress. Porter County Parks & Recreation recently acquired funding through a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cost-sharing program to add native pollinator plants around the edge of the pond. The 5-Year Master Plan also calls for upgrades to the park’s entryway and parking lot. Improved signage, benches and picnic tables will be added soon. Questions about Brookdale Park can be directed to Darlene McCarty Cohn, (219) 548-0219.