Pulaski County Tribe hosts "4th Friday" community gathering

PULASKI COUNTY, Ind. -- Pulaski County Tribe hosted its monthly "4th Friday" community gathering Friday evening at Winamac Town Park, drawing families to the park's west side for an evening of free, kid-friendly activities, live music, and food. Attendees played lawn games including Jenga and Connect Four while children explored playground features the organization has installed in recent years, including metal sculptures shaped like local wildlife, new swings, and a pavilion. Local artist, Adam Gundrum, and a local food truck served attendees throughout the evening.

Pulaski County Tribe founder Brandi Larkin said the idea for the organization came after she and her husband traveled and observed examples of community collaboration elsewhere, prompting them to bring a similar model home to Pulaski County. Larkin said the group's early years, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, were difficult, with inconsistent turnout and only a small core of organizers, including a collaborator identified as Diane, working to keep events going.

Larkin said the organization has grown by staying community-led, prioritizing projects that directly benefit residents rather than pursuing ideas for their own sake. She said Pulaski County Tribe continues to rely on partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and volunteers to sustain its events, a partnership visible Friday in the local acts and vendors taking part.

Friday's gathering was part of a continuing investment by the Tribe in the west side of Winamac Town Park, an area the organization has worked to develop with landscaping and family-friendly features over the past several years.