10 Things We are Thankful For in Kokomo

The month of November brings us true fall weather and the vibes of thankfulness and gratitude before we celebrate the idea of sharing a meal with loved ones. Our team here at The Kokomo Post has taken the time to reflect upon our city and share 10 things we are thankful to have here in Kokomo.

1. Our Parks

   The Kokomo Parks & Recreation Department maintains more than 30 locations of parks, trails, rental facilities and more.  While some are more popular than others, there are plenty of great places for our children and families to be active outside. We learned from KPRD Department Head Torrey Roe that the best way to help deter vandalism or damage to our parks is to use them and be present. We are so thankful to visit the Kirkendall Nature Center at Jackson Morrow park and play in the Splash Pad at Al Berryman Park in warmer months. Our current favorite parks to visit are Waterworks Park and Foster Park, but we are frequent visitors to all of the area parks and trails. 
   
   Thank you to our Kokomo Parks & Recreation Department.
   

2. The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library

   While some cities have one library, we are lucky enough to have three library locations filled with opportunities to play, learn, and read alongside their amazing staff. Our family attends KHCPL programs at all three locations and love the different environment and activities each branch offers. My kids are thankful for the library because it feels like a special place to play and they love borrowing new books, movies, and playaways. As a parent, I’m thankful for our libraries because they provide me with free educational resources to share with my kids and help us save money by borrowing books, movies, playaways, and experience kits. 
   
   Thank you to our Kokomo-Howard County Public Library staff and volunteers.
   

3. The Kokomo Jackrabbits and The Kokomo Bobkats

   The Kokomo Jackrabbits and The Bobkats are two new teams my kids love to watch during their respective seasons. These low-cost, high energy experiences at Kokomo Municipal Stadium and The Memorial Gymnasium are so valuable to a family with kids. I love watching my kids adore the players and celebrate the slam dunks or home runs. My kids are easiest to please because they love being where the action is and being loud in a safe space. The concession stand being nearby adds to the experience as well. We’re thankful to have these fun experiences available to us locally rather than investing extra time and money to see other professional events.
   
   Thank you to everyone with The Kokomo Jackrabbits and The Kokomo Bobkats.
   

4. The Christmas light displays in Highland Park and Greentown

   I know there’s an amazing Christmas tradition missing from our community, but I’m thankful I lived in Kokomo at a time to visit We Care Park at least once. While it will never be the same, I am thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the Christmas light displays throughout the season at Highland Park and the Howard County 4-H Fairgrounds. My kids love the adventure of being out after dark in the wintertime and the sparkle of the lights. It’s so magical when there’s snow on the ground and Santa is nearby with candy canes too.
   
   Thank you to the sponsors of the Highland Park City of Lights and the Greentown Lions Club Christmas Lights.
   

5. Many choices of yummy places to eat

   Kokomo is home to many great places to eat. Whether it's dine-in or carry-out, fast food or slow food we have many options. I love that we have such a wide variety of local options as well as nationwide chain restaurants. One night we may grab a classic Pizza Hut dinner or a specialty pizza at Pizza Co. a few days later. My kids love to eat anything I don’t make for dinner, but “Cowboy Food” (aka Texas Roadhouse) and Choo Choo McGoo’s are the current favorites. 
   
   Thank you to the restaurant owners and staff that are serving up delicious meals and investing in our community.
   

6. Kokomo Beach

   You may not feel thankful for Kokomo Beach in its off-season, but we are already thinking about floating in that lazy river as a family next summer. Kokomo Beach is an incredible asset to our community where again, we benefit from the location and lower cost in comparison to a large water park somewhere else. My kids love the splash pad and are anxious to be tall enough to go on the water slides. I love seeing my kids enjoy themselves and cool off during those hot summer months. We are the most thankful that Kokomo Beach is a safe, fun place available to us in Kokomo.
   
   Thank you to KPRD, the 2023 lifeguards and other staff at Kokomo Beach.
   

7. Indiana University Kokomo and Ivy Tech

   You may be curious why these places are on the list, but have you considered what IU Kokomo and Ivy Tech do for our community? I hear those names listed as sponsors for events and projects all over town. They also provide a service to those youth and adults looking to advance their education or career without leaving their hometown or balancing their work and education. These two institutions also benefit our community economically by bringing more people into the area. Attending an educational or athletic event at IU Kokomo or Ivy Tech may spark inspiration for further education or creativity among all of us.
   
   Thank you IU Kokomo and Ivy Tech for creating local educational opportunities and supporting our community.
   

8. Family Fun Entertainment Spots

   We can’t forget how thankful we are for the other fun spots in town that provide us with entertainment for local date nights or family fun outings. My kids enjoy playing at Sweet Peas Play Cafe and golfing at City of Firsts Adventure Park. I enjoy strolling through the Markland Mall after jumping around at Gravity Trampoline Park. We even attended a Monster Truck Show at The Kokomo Speedway this past year.  There are so many things to do in Kokomo with friends and family.
   
   Thank you to the many local businesses creating FUN experiences in our community.
   

9. The Strawberry Festival and other local events

   There are community wide events happening every month in our community. Many first Fridays of the month the Greater Kokomo Economic Alliance and the Downtown Association host monthly themed events where local businesses, non profits, and other organizations are open and having a good time. My family looks forward to the Strawberry Festival, the Howard County Fair, and the Kokomo Christmas Parade each year. You can find details about all of these local events and festivals on The Kokomo Post Calendar.
   
   Thank you to the organizations that bring us many local fun events and festivals throughout the year.

10. Prime Central Indiana Location

    For those moments when we just want to get out of town or try something new, we know that because Kokomo is located in North Central Indiana we aren’t far from a new adventure. The big cities of Indianapolis, Lafayette, and Fort Wayne are a less than two-hour drive from our home and have much to offer like we do. You want to adventure even further? In about five hours or less of driving from Kokomo lies the windy city called Chicago, the music city of Nashville, Tennessee, the St. Louis Arch, and even the bridge to Canada outside of Detroit, Michigan. Our family is happy to call Kokomo home, but we also love a good adventure and Indiana is a great place for a traveler to settle in.
    
    Thank you, Indiana, for living up to your nickname “The Crossroads of America”

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have you considered a few things that you are thankful for about Kokomo? Or even something you’d really miss if it was removed or went out of business. Share your thoughts in the comments and remember to share your gratitude with everyone as often as possible, but especially as we enter this year’s holiday season.