Goshen Center for Cancer Care gave $2,500 for the installation of three sunscreen dispensing stations at Winona Lake Limitless Park and enough sunscreen to fill them for the rest of the summer season. Posing with one of the stations on Wednesday, June 30, are from left: Front –  Goshen Health Education Coordinator Hollie Carlson, Goshen Center for Cancer Care Survivor Network Coordinator Libby Stout, Winona Lake Park Department Director Holly Hummitch and Winona Lake Park Board Member Meghan Smith; back – Winona Lake Park Board President Matt Goebel, Goshen Health Marketing Specialist Katie Panning and  Winona Lake Park Board Secretary Oxana Mullins. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — A citizen request has come to fruition at Winona Lake Limitless Park.

Three sunscreen stations with free SPF 30 sunscreen are now available for use there.

The project request first came up in March from a citizen during a meeting for the town’s five-year master park and recreation plan.

The Winona Lake Park Board opted to grant her request and contacted Goshen Health about funding. The Goshen Center for Cancer Care gave $2,500, which provided the three stations and enough sunscreen to keep them stocked for the rest of the summer.

“They were very responsive, very excited about the opportunity,” said Winona Lake Park Board Member Meghan Smith. “We approached a couple different health care organizations, but these guys were very fast in their response and took it up.”

“It will help protect people from getting skin cancer,” said Winona Lake Park Board Secretary Oxana Mullins regarding how the stations will help the board serve the community.

“Just create awareness and show that we’re always excited to hear the public’s ideas too,” added Smith. “We’re always happy to hear any positive ideas people have.”

“If the public has any other recommendations, we would invite them to join our Friends of the Park committee,” said Mullins.

People can get more information on that by emailing Smith at [email protected] or Park Department Director Holly Hummitch at [email protected].

Another project coming up is fundraising for additions at WLLP. That’s to start in August, said Board President Matt Goebel. More information will be going out to Winona Lake residents.

“Hopefully, work can begin about 18 months from now, by the end of next summer,” said Smith.

That work includes “finishing up the playgrounds … an extension of beach access in addition to another shelter,” said Hummitch.

“And then getting a paved walkway all the way to the splash pad, so connecting between all the elements, making it more limitless. And eventually, the real big goal is Holly would love handicapped access to the lake,” said Smith.

Grants will also be sought for the project in addition to individual donations. If people wish to go ahead and donate now, they may do so by mailing checks made out to the Winona Lake Park Department to P.O. Box 338, Winona Lake, IN 46590 or giving online by clicking here.

A close-up of one of the sunscreen stations.