Q&A with Jim Engledow + Rich Taylor

Q&A with Jim Engledow + Rich Taylor

• How (and why) did you first get involved with Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation?  

  Jim:

  I used to visit the “Flowing Well” with my grandfather where we filled glass jugs with the spring water. I guess this would be my very first interaction with what was to become one of Carmel’s parks. The actual beginning of my involvement with CCPR began when Judy Hagan, then Township Trustee, asked me if I would be interested in being appointed to the Carmel/Clay Board of Parks and Recreation. After attending several meetings as a visitor, I knew that this would be both interesting and something that I would be able to contribute to. I also thought that serving on the Board would be a good way to give back to my community in a non-political way. 

  Rich:

  I was first asked to join the board due to my finance and business background. Specifically to assist the department with implementing business-like practices for the Monon Community Center. My role was really to remove barriers and set policies that allow staff to be successful.   

• What would you say is Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation’s biggest accomplishment? What are you most proud of?

  Jim:

  I believe that establishing and developing a world-class park system in a relatively short period of time is something that we should all be proud of. Two CAPRA certifications and two Gold Medal Awards from the National Recreation and Park Association speaks very highly of the quality of our parks and the professionalism of our staff. Being associated with such a fine organization is something that I have been very proud of. 

  Rich:

  CCPR’s biggest accomplishment is winning back-to-back Gold Medals for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from NRPA and the Academy. I am most proud of acquiring parkland in northwest Clay Township. For over 10 years, CCPR had been trying to acquire parkland in NW Clay. I am also most proud of our team and management. They successfully led our department through a global pandemic. Because of their fiscal management, our non-tax-supported funds had the resources available to survive the shutdown. 

• What do you hope Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation will accomplish in the next 30 years?

  Jim:

  We have gone from zero to sixty in 30 short years and I would hope that we would continue to adhere to the ideas that have brought us this far. Public input, nothing but quality, environmental stewardship, conservation, and the list goes on. Being a relatively young department, all our facilities are new within the past 30 years (most within the past 15 years), and I would hope that one of the goals of future park boards would be to keep the “shine” on the facilities and to keep our facilities safe and inviting places for our citizens to visit. 

  Rich:

  I hope CCPR engages the community’s most important natural resource … the White River. This includes acquiring additional parkland, providing trail connectivity (pedestrian bridge), and possible River Ecology Center to educate the public about the river. 

• Which Park is your favorite to visit?

  Jim:

  My favorite park to visit would be West Park. It is closest to our house and provides a myriad of opportunities for all ages. Hiking, fishing, playgrounds, splash pads, and, of course, Jill’s Hill. We visit this park all most every week and I have been pleasantly surprised at how the park has matured over the years. The new renovations coming online, as well as the recently opened Jill Perlman Pavilion, will continue to enhance Carmel’s west side. 

  Rich:

  My favorite park to visit is Flowing Well Park. With two young kids, we enjoy spending time creek stomping in Cool Creek. It is a hidden gem and with the new improvements a very popular park to enjoy nature.

• What is your fondest memory over the last 30 years?

  Jim:

  It would be hard to narrow down my best memory to a single event, but I believe giving an acceptance speech for the Gold Medal Award in 2014 would have to top the list. From a single park in 1991 to becoming one of the best park departments in the country in 23 short years is quite an accomplishment. I hope that my leadership during some of the past 30 years has in some small way contributed to the success of the department. 

  Rich:

  My fondest memory was becoming accredited and winning the Gold Medal and receiving accreditation in the same year. 

• Share a Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation memory or story that makes you laugh. 

  Jim:

  Again, tough to pick a singular memory. I served for 20 years. During those years, I worked with and interacted with literally hundreds of people in just about any kind of situation you can imagine. To this day, I marvel at the extreme measures that we (CCPR) took to protect an old, disheveled walnut tree during the construction of the east side of Central Park. “BOB” as the tree became known, received as much attention and protection as any national monument would have received. BOB faithfully guarded the northeast corner of the intersection of the Monon Greenway and 111th Street for several years after the completion of Central Park. Unfortunately, BOB is no longer with us – having succumbed to the construction around his roots and, more likely, old age.      

  Rich:

  During the pandemic, we held public zoom meetings. My kids would regularly break into my office and “photobomb” the public meeting. They are now part of the public record of more than a few meetings during 2020. 

• What does Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation mean to you?

  Jim:

  CCPR is one of the bright shining lights that is Carmel Indiana. In almost every aspect, Carmel (including CCPR) is both cutting edge and customer (resident) focused. Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation actively works on re-inventing itself every three to five years. The Department has always encouraged input from its constituents and then figures out a way(s) to respond to those requests. CCPR is innovative, extremely professional, and has always reflected a very positive image for our community. 

  Rich:

  CCPR means a lot to me. It means we’re providing quality of life, access to natural resources, and the opportunity for a healthy lifestyle for all. For me personally,  it’s a calling to serve and for my family an opportunity for my young children to experience nature right in their hometown.  

• What is one thing you wish the community knew (or think the community should know) about Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation?

  Jim:

  It is often said that the wheels of government turn slowly and CCPR, just like any municipal entity, has a set of rules that, legally, they must follow. These rules are in place because it is the “people’s money” that the department is spending. Open door policies, bidding/quoting policies, purchasing policies all contribute to what someone outside of the public arena might see as procrastination or government slow down. All these checks and balances are in place to protect the citizenry (and their dollars) and serves as oversight to ensure the best value and quality for the price being paid. Sometimes this takes a while. 

  Rich:

  I wish the community knew more about the impact CCPR is making with our adaptive programming and the awards our adaptive programming has achieved. 

• During the time you served on the board, what was CCPR’s biggest priority?

  Jim:

  Consistently over the past 30 years, through my time with 5 Executive Directors and with numerous members of the parks board, the highest priority has been to obtain input from the public. Whether it be through open discussion with stakeholders, input via surveys, problems highlighted through our HAPPiFEET app, the Board has always promoted and encouraged community input. Not only has the Board solicited input, but they have acted on that input and, consequently, has created one of the top park departments in the United States. 

  Rich:

  The Monon Community Center meeting 100% cost recovery while providing the best services possible to our stakeholders. I would also say acquiring parkland in northwest Clay Township and activating the White River.