The Crossroads Region is highly dedicated to enhancing and enriching the lives of its community members. With parks, services, activities, scholarships, community centers and more, the quality of life in Crown Point, Merrillville, and Winfield/Lake of Four Seasons is unmatched.
The Crown Point Community Foundation is an excellent service for Crown Point and Northwestern Indiana residents. Established in 1990, The Crown Point Community Foundation raises funds through community donations to provide grants and scholarships to meet community needs. In 2016, the Foundation awarded over $924,315 in grants and scholarships to local schools, businesses, organizations and individuals. To learn more or to make a donation, visit www.crownpointcommunityfoundation.org.
Both Crown Point and Merrillville have parks and recreation departments that also provide many services to the town. Both maintain beautiful park and natural areas with swimming pools, bike and walking trails, event facilities, educational and athletic youth programs, senior activities and so much more. There are more than 125 miles of bike and walking trails throughout Northwestern Indiana and Eastern Illinois. You can find comprehensive maps of these trails at the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission’s website, www.nirpc.org.
Also, visit the Crown Point Parks and Recreation Department at www.crownpoint.in.gov/parksweb or the Merrillville Parks and Recreation Department at www.merrillville.in.gov/departments/parks_department/parks_department.html.
For younger residents, the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana with locations in Merrillville and Cedar Lake, is an excellent resource. The Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana is the largest youth service organization in Indiana outside of the school system and has been providing a safe environment for approximately 11,000 area youth since 1954. To learn more, visit http://bgcnwi.org.
Another great program for residents of all ages, but especially the area youth, is the South Shore Arts. This arts program provides youth outreach, educational opportunities, exhibitions, and regional arts services to 28,000 children each year. Classes and exhibitions include ceramics, photography, cartooning, acting and more. Visit www.southshoreartsonline.org.
The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra holds free summer concerts, a chorus, a youth orchestra, education, outreach programs and a women’s association. Education programs aim to bring activities and concerts into classrooms to enhance classroom curricula. For more information, visit www.nisorchestra.org.
Senior residents will find many programs and services catered just to their needs. There are several excellent assisted living and retirement communities in the area with varying levels of care to fit each resident’s needs. In addition, the parks departments host many classes and programs for seniors such as afternoon movies, fitness classes, dinner and entertainment nights and art classes.
The Crown Point planning department also recently became the first in the area to partner with a federal Senior Community Service Employment Program. The program aims to help place seniors in part-time jobs to earn money and learn new skills.
OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Crown Point Community Library
www.crownpointlibrary.org
www.crownpointlibrary.org/winfield
Merrillville Community Planetarium
www.mcpstars.org
Lake County Public Library – Merrillville Branch
www.lcplin.org/Branches/cnl.htm
Ross Music Theatre
www.m-mproductions.com
List of area service clubs
www.crossroadschamber.org/service-clubs.php