Experience

Where the Wild Things Are
“WE WANT VISITORS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND LEARN. THE MORE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE ANIMALS WE HAVE IN THE ZOO, THE MORE THEY WILL CARE ABOUT THEM IN THE WILD TOO.” You don’t have to be a certain age to enjoy the zoo. In fact, the Potawatomi Zoo is one of the most visited destinations […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center Guides Youth with Life-Changing Program
Rule #1: Your life is the most valuable possession you own.

Building the Future at Charles Black Recreation Center
If you’ve ever been to the Charles Black Recreation Center for any one of its numerous events or programs, you’ve probably noticed the kind, welcoming faces of its staff.

An Adventure in the Treetops
Have you ever wondered what it felt like to be among the treetops?