appsadmin, Author at SBVPA

A Second Vision For South Bend’s First Park

The first of its kind in many respects, Howard Park is about to become one of South Bend’s most prized assets. Although this project is quite expansive – altering the entire landscape of the park – it’s not the first time this piece of land was transformed. Once South Bend’s trash dump and breeding ground for diseases like malaria in the summer […]

Reinventing South Bend’s Historic Spaces

An elaborate wrought-iron gate frames the entrance to City Cemetery at 211 Elm Street, where a newly poured parking lot sits in stark contrast to the property’s nearly 200-year-old threshold. Undergoing a multi-year redevelopment, City Cemetery is just one of South Bend’s many historic public spaces slated for revitalization, thanks to local community advocates and the city’s My South Bend Parks & Trails initiative. “After many years of not getting attention, the […]

Closing the Digital Gap

Coding. When most visualize a coder, it’s typically the image of a beanie-wearing hipster sitting in a dark room hacking into a secured network. The movies may fantasize it, but coding is an extremely important skill for our ever-growing digital world. The concept of coding isn’t a new one. The skill – part art and part science – has become a crucial part of American’s everyday lives […]

Back-In Angle Parking at Howard Park

What is Back-In Angle Parking? Designed to improve safety when entering and exiting traffic, back-in angle parking allows drivers to reverse into spots, making them vigilant of other bicyclists, pedestrians and traffic around them. When drivers leave, they pull forward into the street instead of backing into it, allowing them to see oncoming traffic easier. […]

Eat like a Champion

A healthy initiative took place for South Bend’s youth during summer break Nearly 1 in 3 children in America is overweight according to the CDC, but many are unaware that having a well-balance diet is extremely important to their proper growth and development. Giving kids an understanding of what healthy foods are and allowing them to experience them […]

Not Your Average Lunch Break

Nothing says summer like enjoying food trucks and live music in the park! Fridays by the Fountain at Jon R. Hunt Plaza is a summertime tradition in downtown South Bend! Each summer between the months of June and August, this concert series runs every Friday and features live entertainment from a range of genres, such […]

Introducing…SPARK!

Introducing the newest South Bend resident!

Facilities and Grounds: Thinking Outside the Box

Picture this: litter on the street, overgrown grass, barren and broken parks. Our Facilities and Grounds team works hard to make sure this never happens. It’s easy to forget about the hard work that goes into making our city beautiful. When everything is running smoothly you don’t think about the alternative. The unsung heroes of […]

Coming Soon to South Bend – Boomer, a Mobile Experience

EQUITY The City of South Bend is investing approximately $50 Million of capital improvements into our shared public spaces through an initiative called My SB Parks & Trails. This includes hundreds of deferred maintenance items, such as replacing old and unsafe playgrounds, benches, athletic courts, and sidewalks. The improvements are designed to make our parks […]

Wintertime Adventures at Rum Village

Come take a walk at Rum Village where quiet yet breathtaking adventures await you at every turn.

VPA Welcomes You to 2019

With everything we do, we keep in mind our mission to inspire a more livable South Bend for all, connecting us to emotionally engaging experiences and each other.

Charles Black Recreation Center Renovations

For years, Charles Black Recreation Center has been a pride and joy for the LaSalle Park neighborhood.