What a Park Means to a City w/ Aaron Perri
South Bend on Purpose is a podcast about place, belonging, and South Bend hosted by Jacob Titus and Dustin Mix.
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Welcome to episode five of season three of South Bend on Purpose. This season we’re telling the stories of people who are betting on South Bend by investing new purpose into old spaces, whether that's an old industrial building or a once lively plot of land; people whose internal purpose has manifested itself into a physical part of our city – the streets, parks, buildings, and restaurants of South Bend.
Each episode tells the story of a space in South Bend, and while most of the season’s episodes were recorded at live events, this one is a throwback to the season two format of the two of us in the studio with a guest.
This week we’re joined by Aaron Perri, Executive Director of Venues Parks & Arts, about his work to re-imagine the future of Howard Park, South Bend’s oldest and largest park.
Our wide-ranging conversation explores Aaron’s history with South Bend, his thoughts on what a good park can do for a neighborhood, how he thinks about ending creative projects, the founding of Howard Park as an innovative pleasure ground, and what Howard Park’s multi-million dollar transformation will mean to the city at-large.
It is one of our favorite episodes yet.
Howard Park from the Jefferson Street Bridge.
The Jefferson Street Bridge and since-demolished standpipe from Howard Park.
Howard Park from the South.
The Studebaker Electric Fountain, now located in Leeper Park, shown at its original location in Howard Park.
The Studebaker Electric Fountain, now located in Leeper Park, shown at its original location in Howard Park.
A drawing of the new plan for Howard Park.
A rendering of the innovative playground currently under construction at Howard Park.
A rendering of the new community building currently under construction on the North East corner of Howard Park.
A rendering of a fire pit positioned around the new Ice Trail currently under construction at Howard Park.