Save Coxhall Garden's

In 1999 the late Jesse and Beulah Cox, philanthropists and residents of Carmel, donated their 125 acre parcel of land in Carmel, Indiana to the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department.

The 125 acres was then named Coxhall Garden's.

Jesse Cox was quoted as saying that in the midst of all the new development he wanted to "preserve an oasis in a sea of homes."

This absolutely beautiful public park is turning into a business right before our eyes.

3 years ago the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department sold the Centerpiece (Ampitheater and Fountains) of Coxhall Gardens to the highest bidder.

No joke.

The Ritz Charles, located in Carmel, Indiana and Overland Park, Kansas, was the highest bidder and now has exclusive rights to manage rentals of the Coxhall Garden's facilities and exclusive rights to be the caterer for any event at Coxhall Garden's.

This is a major problem.

It is common practice for residents of counties to rent pavilions, rooms, and other facilities at public parks through their parks department for a small fee.  This fee helps with upkeep of the facilities and grounds.

But with Coxhall Garden's you have to rent the public parks facilities through a private business, the Ritz Charles.

The Ritz Charles is charging upwards of $2000 to rent the facilities at Coxhall Garden's.  That is about 40 times the amount it costs to rent any other facility in the Hamilton County Parks System.

Are you starting to see the problem?

The 125 acres known as Coxhall Garden's was donated to the Hamilton County Parks Department by Jesse and Beulah Cox to "preserve an oasis in a sea of homes."

Coxhall Garden's is a public park, which means that you, a resident of Hamilton County, are paying for the maintenance, improvements, and upkeep of Coxhall Garden's.

Hamilton County Parks Department sold the exclusive management rights to Coxhall Garden's Centerpiece to the Ritz Charles.

The Ritz Charles is charging outrageous amounts of money to the citizens of Hamilton County to rent Coxhall Garden's facilities.

Is Coxhall Garden's a public park anymore?

Is Coxhall Garden's accessible and affordable to all who want to rent the facilities?

Coxhall Garden's also just accepted $1.5 million that will restore the former home of Jesse and Beulah.  The Hamilton County parks department has said that the third floor of the home will be restored as a space for receptions and meetings and the garage will be transformed into a catering area for small gatherings.

I can only guess that Jesse and Beulah's former dream home will be used as another way for the Ritz Charles and the Hamilton County Parks Department to make a great deal of money.

For more information please visit: www.savecoxhallgardens.wordpress.com