Sunday, June 21, 2009 12:13 AM CDT
Mill Creek Park an off-the-beaten-path gem
By BONNIE CLARK, Features Writer
A catfish tournament held Saturday, along with a flea market and farmers’ market and an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage Father’s Day breakfast today, are just four of the special events that happen on a regular basis at Mill Creek Park in Marshall, or Clarksville to be precise.
“Actually, we’re in Clarksville, but we have a Marshall address,” said Dennis Shiley, the park’s executive director. “I suppose that’s because Clarksville doesn’t have a post office.”
The park, on the Lincoln Heritage Trail road (Clarksville Road between Westfield and Marshall), boasts 2,600 acres of land and 811 acres of water (39 miles of shoreline, according to a brochure).
It attracts visitors from a wide area, including some from Chicago.
Owned by the Clark County Park District, the park operates on a small tax levy, Shiley said, which accounts for around a fifth of the park’s total income.
While boat docks, cabin rentals, camp site rentals, and fishing tournaments help keep the budget in the black, many, if not most, scheduled events are free.
In addition to boating and fishing, there are ATV trails, nature trails, horse trails, a lighted soccer field, Frisbee golf, volleyball and horseshoes, free bands and DJs once a month, free movie nights on Fridays with free popcorn, and special events scheduled during the April 1-Nov. 1 season.
“Usually there’s just the campground kids here on movie nights, but other kids are welcome, too,” Shiley said.
Jana Williamson, manager of the Fisherman’s Table concession stand at the park, said music, either area bands or DJs, is provided at no charge about once a month.
One band, Trouble & Company, scheduled to play Aug. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m., is from Martinsville.
“They’re very familiar to people in this area,” Williamson said, “and they provide good family entertainment — everything from gospel to rock ‘n’ roll.”
Another popular scheduled band, Open Road, is to be at the park July 3.
“We pull the tables out of the shelter at the concession stand and people dance there,” Williamson said.
“With the economy the way it is, there’s a lot to be said for getting people out here and giving them reasons to get out and relax without it costing them very much money,” Shiley said.
The huge fishing lake is stocked with muskie, largemouth bass, channel cat, bluegill, black and white crappie and redear fish.
Night crawlers and wax worms are available for purchase at the gatehouse.
“There’s not a lot of access to fish off the bank unless you want to beat through the brush and hang off the trees to get there,” Shiley said. “Due to erosion reasons, it’s just not reasonable for us to groom it down to the lake like some estate parks can.”
According to Shiley, the picnic areas are underutilized.
“Overall, the park is not a big picnic destination,” he said, “even though we’d like to have every picnic table filled every day of the year.
“It would be great to see people out here eating, walking and hiking, just using the park.”
The public is free to use the picnic areas; however, to reserve a shelter costs $10.
Upcoming events include Red Neck Game Night beginning at 5 p.m. July 3 on the soccer field.
On July 4, there will be a Fisherman’s Table picnic menu of barbeque or hot dogs all day, with baked beans and slaw special. Bingo is planned at the concession stand at 2 p.m.
A back-to-school potluck meal is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 15, with a DJ, and the Mill Creek Park King and Queen contest. The prize is use of a pontoon for half a day for each winner.
On Sept. 5, Party Like a Pirate will be held at the concession stand beginning at 6 p.m. Music will be by Don Morris from 7 to 10 p.m.
Also planned are the Clark County Fitness Walk, Sept. 26; the park’s annual Barn Dance, all-you-can-eat ham and beans with cornbread or chili, Oct. 3; decathlon with Trails Coalition, Oct. 10; Costume Contest, with Trick or Treat Night, a movie, and campground decorating contest, Oct. 23; and mule wagon rides, Oct. 24.
Every other year, the Phoenix Theatre of Marshall puts on productions at the park, such as the popular “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by the group’s Teens-N-Theatre Troupe in October.
Williamson said the Haunted Woods hayride and wiener roast will probably be offered on alternate years.
Last Call Chowder, a meal similar to Hobo Stew, is planned Oct. 31.
“We get out the big, black cauldron and cook up the meat and vegetables,” Shiley said.
“The campers bring something to throw in the pot and we donate the meat cost. It turns into a tasty soup.”
A relatively new project at the park is the honorary tree donation program, Shiley said. For a donation to the Clark County Park District, a tree is planted in memory of friends or loved ones, as an honor to an individual for personal achievement, or as a celebration.
“It’s a great way to preserve memories,” Shiley said, “and make new memories.”
Information about the park’s activities may be obtained by calling Fisherman’s Table concession stand at 889-3608 or the gatehouse at 889-3601.
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Rohn Gordon wrote on Jun 21, 2009 9:49 AM: