A Peek Behind the Curtain
If you’ve ever been downtown around the Morris Performing Arts Center, you’ve probably seen the marquee lit up and the bustle of excitement just before a show is about to begin. However, putting on a show at the Morris is much more than setting up a few speakers. Behind-the-scenes you’ll find Kyle Miller, Production Manager at […]
Skate-It-Forward at Howard Park
What exactly is Skate-it-Forward? Driven by equality among our residents, the Skate-it-Forward program is designed to make sure every resident has full access to our park amenities regardless of personal circumstances. The Skate-it-Forward program is a powerful initiative where every patron of Howard Park will be a changemaker by advancing these equity goals and provide access […]
A Changing Landscape
Boomer Introduced earlier this year, Boomer has reactivated neighborhood parks throughout South Bend. The impact of this program has seen a multitude of partnerships and neighborhood awareness. Over 2,500 people have attended a Boomer event so far, with more to follow throughout the upcoming months. Neighborhood Parks As part of the My SB Parks & […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
Sam Centellas: Journey to Health
Sam Centellas: Journey to Health Meet Sam Centellas. You might know him as the Executive Director of La Casa de Amistad, a community center on the Westside of South Bend, you might recognize him as one of the key coordinators of Westside Wednesday, or perhaps you may have seen this early morning gym-goer at O’Brien Fitness […]
Best. Week. Ever.
2017 was full of exciting changes for our community, including the addition of the 1st Annual Best. Week. Ever. celebration. For an entire week, every day and evening, across every portion of the city, something was happening. 50,000+ residents and visitors attended the approximately 100 experiences that took place. Best. Week. Ever. was built upon […]
Charles Black Center, Sr. Recreation Center Uses Creative Mentorship Opportunities to Impact Lives
Thoughts of Charles Black, Sr. Recreation Center usually bring to mind their after-school program or open basketball.