Lease Agreement in Place for Community Park at North Dearborn Elementary Property

The Sunman-Dearborn School Board approved the 20-year lease at their last meeting.

(St. Leon, Ind.) - A portion of the property where North Dearborn Elementary School once stood is set to become a park. 

The Sunman-Dearborn Community School Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the North Dearborn Community Park organization in July of 2022. 

While not legally binding, the MOU signaled that a binding contract could be imminent. At this month's regularly scheduled school board meeting, the school board approved a 20-year lease agreement with the North Dearborn Community Park organization. 

The time span of the agreement allows the organization to develop the park and seek grant opportunities. 

Current plans call for the park to include a walking trail. However, details about the trail were not given at the most recent school board meeting. Since the school corporation still owns the land, any improvements to the park will need to be approved by the school board. 

When the park was first proposed, an indication was made that construction could start in 2025. That timeline has yet to be decided on. 

The school corporation may also consider future programming at the old North Dearborn Elementary property. Last June, the school board heard a pitch about the potential of building a new Ag Education Center. 

Discussion about the lease agreement can be found around the 23:00 mark in the video player below. 

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