Pictured, from left, Rob Parker, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce president; Christine Miller, Beacon Credit Union; Chuck Josey, KCH CFO; Nola Hudson, Beacon Credit Union, Chamber Ambassador; Ryan Workman, MS4 coordinator of Stormwater Utility; Diane Quance, Warsaw City Council; Bryanie Swilley, Interim KCH CEO; Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer; Joy Lohse, KCH director; Doug Hanes, First Federal Savings Bank, Chamber Ambassador; Kim Finch, KCH CNO/ COO, Ashley Bruner, MutualBank, Chamber Ambassador; and Dr. Nate Bosch. Pictured sitting in front is Cooper Quance.

WARSAW —  A ribbon cutting event was held at Beyer Brady Trail Thursday, Oct. 11, to celebrate the completion of the construction phase of the stormwater quality project.

In 2016, Stormwater Utility was directed to the Beyer Brady Trail to inspect erosion issues. Following the inspection, Stormwater Utility pursued a potential stormwater quality project along the trail. In July 2017, Kosciusko Community Hospital donated $5,000 to the stormwater quality project, becoming the first partner in that venture for water quality. The project promotes water quality through use of pervious recycled materials, the addition of native plants to stabilize soil and tiered pervious seating.

“We’re taking on a lot of stormwater runoff from the impervious surface from the businesses we have here on the east side, and then west of us we have the wetlands,” said Ryan Workman, MS4 Coordinator of Stormwater Utility. “We could have done the same thing we’ve done along the way with prairie mix grasses and a few bushes to establish the soil and hold it down, but we wanted to do something a bit more for the community. We came up with this vision of a filtering amphitheater.”

The current project will help filter and store stormwater to ensure that cleaner water enters the nearby wetlands and eventually Pike Lake and Tippecanoe River. 

“In phase two we plan to add three educational signages,” said Workman. “We’re going to be basically getting large rocks for the inlet down south and we’ll be adding two boardwalks.”

“Obviously the Stormwater Utility is an important part of our community with our water tables being high with all the lakes and the washout and runoff problems we have,” said Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer. “This is an example of not only the practices but the educational components here. Runoff is something nobody even thinks about until it causes a problem.”

“Ryan (Workman) has done a great job, not only on the methods used but also the educational component – to get kids down here to not only experience nature but to also find out how we try to preserve and protect,” Thallemer stated. “I’m thankful for the resources of the Stormwater Utility and what they’ve done here.”

“It’s fun to be part of a community that’s being innovative,” said Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams Director Dr. Nate Bosch. “Next we will turn our focus to education since the purpose of this project includes both cleaner water at this site as well as helping our community envision these sorts of projects on their own property.”

The filtering amphitheater at Beyer Brady Trail.