History

Zionsville Lions Club & Zionsville Lions Park Celebrate

2020 – A Milestone Year

September 20, 1975 - Groundbreaking on what is now called the Zionsville Lions Clubhouse located at 115 S. Elm Street.

September 20, 1975 - Groundbreaking on what is now called the Zionsville Lions Clubhouse located at 115 S. Elm Street.

Zionsville Lions Community Room Groundbreaking

Zionsville Lions Community Room Groundbreaking

September 20, 1975 - Groundbreaking on what is now called the Zionsville Lions Clubhouse located at 115 S. Elm Street.

History Lions Members Community Room .jpeg

Zionsville Lions Community Room

Zionsville Lions Community Room

1976 – Finished view of what is now called the Zionsville Lions Clubhouse located at 115 S. Elm Street.

Lions Clubhouse Renovation 2019 - 2020

Lions Clubhouse Renovation 2019 - 2020

Lions Clubhouse after upgrades to siding, doors and entry ways.

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Elm Street Entrance

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Elm Street Entrance

Elm Street Entrance Grading

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance

Elm Street Entrance Digging Footer

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance Framing

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance Framing

Elm Street Entrance Framing

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance Framing

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance Framing

1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance Framing

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance Decking

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance Decking

Elm Street Entrance Decking

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance

Lions Park Renovation 1990-1997 Elm Street Entrance

Elm Street Entrance Completed

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Gazebo Framing

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Gazebo Framing

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Gazebo framing underway

History image gazebo.jpg

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Gazebo Roofing

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Gazebo

Gazebo Pathway being paved

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

View of Parking lot prior to upgrades

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Preparing the layout for the new parking lot

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Hundreds of truckloads of dirt were brought in to create the new parking lot area

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Gravel begin spread

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Preparing the parking lot to be paved

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Parking Lot being paved

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Parking Lot

Completed paved lot ready for visitors!

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Pathway

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Pathway

Clearing Pathways in the park

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Pathways

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Pathways

Creation of Pathways in Lions Park

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Pathway

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Pathway

Paved Pathways

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Playground

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Playground

Playground equipment added to the park

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Playground

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Playground

Playground Equipment added to the park

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Rotary Shelter

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Rotary Shelter

Framing for the Rotary Shelter

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Rotary Shelter

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Rotary Shelter

Rotary Shelter

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Sand Volleyball Court

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Sand Volleyball Court

Laying out the dimensions for the volleyball court

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Sand Volleyball Court

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Sand Volleyball Court

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Sand Volleyball Court

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Sand Volleyball Court

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Tree Planting

Lions Park Renovation 1990 – 1997 Tree Planting

This Zionsville Lion’s Club Community building was completed in 1976 and is partially situated on the 7.97 acres of the original Zionsville Lion’s Park, founded in l940, but now consists of approximately 28 acres. Our local Lions Club was chartered on May 16, 1930, with 24 male charter members and our sponsoring Club was the Plainfield Lions Club. Installation Night was June 20, 1930 with Jesse Phillippi, owner of Phillippi Funeral Home, serving as our first Lion President for 3 years which has not been matched. Today, our club assists in completing our many service activities here in our community whether it is a local to an international level of service to mankind. We meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month for dinner and program.

Below are some “Highlights from our History”. We would like to thank Lion Ralph Stacy and to the late local historian Joan Praed Lyons and the Zionsville Times Sentinel for reporting and compiling the following Zionsville Lions Club information over many decades.

1930 – Lions Club led the search for public transportation and contract was awarded to Hoosier Transportation Company. Lion’s members step forward and bought books of 12 rides. This bus service continued until 1975.

1931 – Zionsville Lions promote the community in Indianapolis Star ad entitled “It’s Springtime in Zionsville”.

1936 – Abraham Lincoln Memorial Plaque and Stone placed by our Lions Club at now Lincoln Park on Flag Day with a dedication ceremony.

1939 – First Donkey Softball to support Park and proceeds were applied on playground debt.

1939 – Extension for 1 year lease with the option to purchase was entered into between Everett M. Hurst and the citizens committee of Zionsville for the purpose of a playground.

1940 – A number of individuals, organizations and businesses agreed to pay subscriptions, $20 a share; for the purchase, improvement and betterment of the Zionsville playground property.

1940 – Big fundraiser, Lion’s Club Fish Fry, began to raise money to assist in paying for equipment used at the park playground. The fundraiser was held at the Methodist Church on a Tuesday evening, August 20th for this fundraiser.

1940 – Lions sponsored and provided refreshments to about 800 children and adults, who attended Christmas show at the Zionsville Theater on East Cedar Street. An unidentified movie was donated by Metro Goldwin Meyer and theater owner Clyde Harris, donated his services and the town permitted use of the building.

1942 – Lions Club won Lions State Bowling Tournament in Terre Haute and won $50 first prize.

1943 – Lions Club provided “good, rich garden lots, 100’ x 50’, to raise a good Victory Garden.

1944 – Lions Club members held a decorated and deliciously filled box supper sale at the school and cleared $100 for the Club.

1944 – Lions Club & The Saddle Club leased the south end of the playground at the park as a corral and had a horse show following Labor Day.

1945 – Lions Club sponsored used clothing drive to liberated countries in Europe.

1945 - Many members of Zionsville Lions Club volunteered in the establishment and dedication of Camp Wilson for the Boy Scouts and the community. The building on site approved by the War Production Board, was 48 feet long and 32 feet wide, with a 10 foot porch. All labor was donated and materials would cost $2,500. George Wilson provided a five year lease on the plot with the option for 5 more years. The property was northeast from Lions Park.

1945 – Zionsville Memorial Park named with a 36-10 vote by Lions Club.

1947 – Lions Club investigates the needs of the present school and report back to the Club.

1947 – Lions Club one of its first contributors, $50, to the unsightly dangerous school house yard.

1952 – Lions Club initiated Little League baseball in Lions Club Memorial Park.

1952 – Zionsville Centennial Celebration, our Lions Club, stepped forward to raise money to finance the program and hosted a large portion of the festivities in our Park.

1957 – Resolution from Lions Club that Camp Wilson be abandoned.

1968 – Mary Edna Johns, bequeath to Zionsville Playground Association, Inc. $15,000 for civic uses and purposes in establishing and maintaining its park and recreational facilities.

1969 – Zionsville Playground Association, Inc. granted Town of Zionsville an easement for sanitary sewer line over a 20 foot strip of uniform width in along the south side of the Park, adjoining State Road 334.

1977 - Ben Boleman (developer of Raintree) gifts 15 acres that was leased to Zionsville Playground Association (ZPA)

1979 – F. C. Tucker Realtors offered a house to The Greater Zionsville Chamber Commerce and it was moved south of Lions Club Community Building.

1990 – Earth Day, a community’s dedication to a cleaner, safe environment, hosted in Lions Park.

1991 – Lions unveil plan for revitalization of Park – Tom Melind coordinator, “Budget called for $600,000 required in cash, services provided in kind and donations”. Changed name to Zionsville Lions Park Inc. and filed for tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

1991 - 1996 – Z’Picnic fund raising event for revitalization of Lions Club Park. Major park upgrades including paved pathways and parking lot, gazeboard shelter construction and Elm Street Wooden Entrance were completed.

1994 – Meg Julien, inducted as the first woman in the Zionsville Lion’s Club.

2020 - Celebrating 90 Years for the Zionsville Club and 80 Years for Zionsville Lions Park

2021 - Boone County assesses value of Lions Park Land at $2,394,000 for 22 acres.

2023 - 5.1 acres were purchased from the Henkaline family on the north side of Lions Park which will connect to Elm Street Green.

Today, nearly 180 members strong, we organize and complete many community events and our current state projects are Leader Dog for the Blind, Cancer Control, Speech and Hearing, Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Vision First and Eye and Tissue Bank.

The Lions Clubs International Emblem is primarily the colors of blue & gold. In 1917 purple and gold were our colors but more recently international adopted blue & gold Lions blue …represents loyalty to country, friends, to one’s self and to the integrity of mind and heart. It is a color of strength, courage, and dedication to cause. Gold symbolizes sincerity of purpose, liberality in judgement, purity in life and generosity in mind, heart and purse toward mankind. The two Lion profiles of either side facing away from the center, symbolically the Lions face – both past and future – proud of the past and confident of the future!

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest secular, relating to worldly things, service organization with over 46,000 clubs and more than 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries around the world. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois the organization strives to meet the needs of communities on a local and global scale.” Lions Club International was founded in the United States in 1917 by Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman.

Past International President, Sid L. Scruggs, III and a past Chairperson for Lions Clubs International Foundation once charge our Fellow Lions to be, “Serving Today for a Better Tomorrow”!