Oselka Park
About Oselka Park
Oselka Park is located at 601 E. Indiana St. Just north of the NBAS High/Middle School grounds. It contains a pavilion/restroom building, a sledding hill, two baseball fields, one softball field and one softball flex-use field adjoining the soccer field.
Oselka Park Master Plan
The Oselka Park Master Plan pursues the goals and objectives defined in the City's Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2005-2010 (PRMP).
The PRMP public survey identifies several recreational needs in the community. The Oselka Park Master Plan was designed to meet those needs. The most needed outdoor athletic facilities identified in the survey are: 1) trails, 2) winter sports, 3) baseball/ softball, and 4) basketball. Phase 1 covered point 3) baseball/softball field improvements. Phase 2 includes 1) 8' wide walking trails, 2) an ice rink and sledding hill, and 4) basketball.
Beyond the addition and improvement of ball fields, Oselka Park: Phase 1 park improvements included a new concession/ restroom/ pavilion building and the extension of Detroit Street for additional parking. Phase 1 was paid for by support of the City taxpayers with a special parks millage, a grant from The Pokagon Fund, and a donation from Horizon Bank was used to add the fireplace at the new pavilion. The Ground Breaking for Phase 1 was April 23, 2008, and the Dedication Ceremony was on August 29, 2009.
When complete, Oselka Park will have a band shell, sledding hill, seasonal ice rink (starting 12/2012), walking trails, additional parking areas, improved storm water management, street improvements along the park, and other site amenities. Phase 2 park improvements are made possible by a grant from The Pokagon Fund.
Oselka Park Use Policy
Adopted by City Council resolution on September 14, 2009.
Oselka Park Rental Agreement
The Oselka Park Pavilion Picnic Shelter and Concession may be reserved by completion of the rental agreement which must be returned to City Hall with the applicable fee and deposit.
Picnic Shelter
The Oselka Park Pavilion Picnic Shelter, located at 601 E. Indiana St., is available to everyone on a first come, first serve basis, except when it is reserved. Reservations may be made on the following basis:
Reservations are only available for the current calendar year. Reservations are not permitted on Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day.
Reservations shall be granted in the following descending order of priority: City of New Buffalo, New Buffalo Area Schools, New Buffalo Sports Inc. (or its successors), and then on a first come, first serve basis.
There is a $25.00 clean-up deposit for renting the pavilion which may be refunded if it is cleaned up after use. Reservations are not added to the calendar until the clean-up deposit is paid at City Hall.
A group may use a single $25.00 clean-up deposit for successive events within the same calendar year; however, an additional $25.00 clean-up deposit will be needed if a group loses its deposit.
The City of New Buffalo, New Buffalo Area Schools, New Buffalo Sports Inc. (or its successors) are exempt from leaving a clean-up deposit.
The City reserves the right to limit the number of times an organization may reserve the Picnic Shelter during a given year.
Picnic Shelter reservations include access to restrooms.
Concessions
Use of the concession area at the Oselka Park Pavilion is available to individuals and groups upon completion of a written rental agreement with the City or those groups holding an event approved by the City Council in which concession space usage is granted in the resolution. Park staff will open the concession area for use during the time of use of the shelter and secure it once the event has concluded.
Storage
Use of locked storage space at the Oselka Park Pavilion is limited to those groups with written agreements with the City.
Restrooms
The restrooms will be open and available for use whenever the picnic shelter has been reserved or an organized sporting event is being conducted at Oselka Park.
Fireplace
Responsible use of the fireplace at Oselka Park Pavilion is permitted. Groups using the fireplace are responsible for providing their own firewood. The fireplace screen is to remain closed when the fireplace is in use.
Soccer, Softball, and Baseball Fields
The ball fields at Oselka Park are available for use in the following descending order of priority: City of New Buffalo, New Buffalo Area Schools, New Buffalo Sports Inc. (or its successors), and then on a first come, first serve basis.