
The Story of Kauffman Park
From Brownfield to Community Asset

A sign at the park entrance welcomes visitors and displays the timeline for the creation of the park.
Becky Hershberger and Mark Brinson discuss the redevelopment of the park
The park’s features include a children’s interactive art and music play area, hill slide, lookout towers, climbing wall, open play spaces, and trails. It also has community gardens.
Property Timeline
excerpts from the Kauffman Park entrance sign timeline created by the City of Goshen, and from the City of Goshen 2004-2013 Comprehensive Plan and Community Vision
Creating A Neighborhood
The Northside Neighborhood Model
We envision a safe and aesthetic environment where ours and the larger community can share in cultural, artistic, and historical experiences and enjoy age-appropriate recreational activities. It is our goal to develop a unique, dynamic destination to provide a community gathering place by reclaiming the natural landscape and revitalizing the property.
– Northside Neighborhood Vision for the Property
Excerpts from the 2004-2014 Goshen Comprehensive Plan and Community Vision
LaCasa’s Community Builders Leadership Training Course gives residents the skills and confidence they need to address issues in their neighborhood. Five resident leaders completed the leadership training course and helped form the Northside Neighborhood Association. The group holds monthly meetings on ongoing issues.
Neighbors had struggled with Quality Drive-Away truck traffic on their residential streets. Owner Omer Kropf moved the company, and in 2001 agreed to donate the vacant building and 10-acre parcel to the City of Goshen.
LaCasa, calling for the residents’ input, began to investigate how the property could be transformed to benefit the Northside Neighborhood.