Chris LaCosse Park

The writer Annie Dillard once noted, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” This is what we mean by Quality Life: What do we need to experience in our daily lives to have a good life as a whole? To not only survive each day, but also thrive in the long run?

Experts in human development would say that personal health (physical, mental, and spiritual) is a big factor in having a Quality Life. Relationships, physical surroundings, and a sense of safety, security, and belonging are factors, too.

Recent data from Newton County showed room for significant improvement in many quality of life factors. Reports showed an obesity rate of 40%, with 29% of residents considered inactive and only 28% of residents having access to recreational opportunities. This wasn’t just tough news about the physical health of the community. It also suggested that Newton County residents were missing out on other valuable activities for wellbeing, like spending time outdoors and enjoying regular social interactions, especially across age groups.

Based on a long-simmering idea for a senior fitness park, Newton County resident and health educator Deb Arseneau saw an opportunity to create a community asset that could help boost quality of life. Town of Morocco official Bob Gonczy had envisioned a walking path connecting downtown with a nearby nature area, and so the two community leaders merged their visions. Arseneau and her team of community partners got to work transforming an abandoned railroad corridor into a park that would serve as a place for people of all ages to exercise, spend time together, and learn outdoors.

Officially opened in May 2025, Newton County’s new multigenerational fitness park was named in honor of Chris LaCosse, a beloved teacher and community contributor. When the project is completed, the park will include a half-mile walking path, a fitness zone with equipment specially designed to be accessible for senior adults, an outdoor classroom for young students, an interactive book walk, and perennial gardens featuring native plants.

Chris LaCosse Park was the result of partnerships among many local organizations and several funding sources. Project partners included the Town of Morocco, Newton County Health Department, Newton County Soil & Water Conservation District, Newton County Economic Development Commission, Purdue Extension-Newton County, and the Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program. Noelle Dennis, a student in the Purdue University Horticulture and Landscape Architecture program, also consulted on the design of the park.

The project was funded through several sources, including a successful crowdfunding campaign that earned matching funds through the CreatINg Livable Communities Partnership between AARP Indiana and IHCDA’s CreatINg Places. More than 50 patrons donated during the campaign, and the fundraising goal was not only met but surpassed by $1,000.

Jasper Newton Foundation was proud to support this unique community collaboration with a Driving Home Grant of $77,000. The project addresses several objectives in the Life, Health, and Kids & Families lanes of Driving Home.

Life – Vibrant Community

Health – Quality Life

Family – Kids & Families

Great ideas for improving the health and quality of life of our community members are coming to light in Newton and Jasper counties every day. To learn more about collaborative Driving Home Grant opportunities for your community organization, visit https://www.jaspernewtonfoundation.org/grant/driving-home-community-collaboration-grants/.