Bloomington honors longtime volunteer Audrey Eichstadt's community service
The Bloomington City Council recognized Audrey Eichstadt at its October 30 meeting for decades of volunteer work maintaining local parks and public spaces. The council presented an award to honor her selfless dedication to beautifying the neighborhood.
Audrey Eichstadt has left an indelible mark on Bloomington through her tireless volunteer efforts. Known affectionately as "Kelly Park's Angel," Eichstadt dedicated herself to maintaining and beautifying Kelly Park and Pond-Dakota Mission Park through extensive weeding and landscaping work. Her contributions extended beyond these parks—she also cared for the area along 104th Street and frequently visited the Pond House during community events like River Rendezvous, where she engaged with staff and visitors.
Eichstadt's deep roots in Bloomington run particularly deep: she purchased her home in 1958 and lived there for 66 years, establishing herself as a fixture in the community. Her commitment to public spaces reflected a broader dedication to neighborhood improvement that resonated with residents and city officials alike.
At Wednesday's meeting, council members recounted Eichstadt's altruistic nature and her significant impact on the upkeep of public spaces throughout the city. Speakers highlighted how her work transformed local parks and inspired others to take pride in their community. The council presented an award recognizing her decades of service and positive influence on the neighborhood.
Eichstadt's recognition underscores the value Bloomington places on volunteer contributions to community life. Her example demonstrates how individual commitment to maintaining shared public spaces can enhance quality of life for entire neighborhoods.
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Source document
[0:00] (tender music)
[0:01] - [Chris] Audrey was kind of
an iconic figure in the area.
[0:06] - [Jay] When she arrived
at the Pond House,
[0:07] she always wanted a big hug.
[0:10] And when she left, she
wanted another big hug.
[0:12] - I believe as a grandma,
and even as a mother,
[0:15] that she was very altruistic.
[0:16] She had a way about her
that seemed always selfless,
[0:19] even when I was young to now
as an adult with my own child.
[0:23] She was actually one of
the last original people
[0:26] on the block that she lived on.
[0:28] She lived there 66 years.
[0:29] They bought the house in 1958
[0:31] when it was in the early development.
[0:33] Her and my grandpa bought
it right away and was like,
[0:35] "This is a place I wanna raise my family."
[0:36] And she ended up staying
here until she passed.
[0:39] And then I bought the home this year.
[0:41] So it's nice to be a part of a community
[0:43] that I know that my grandma touched.
[0:45] I remember her saying a lot to me
[0:46] that she used to entertain for thousands.
[0:48] And she would always be the one
[0:49] in the center of every photo (chuckles),
[0:51] bringing out the food,
cooking for everybody,
[0:53] just having a laugh,
[0:55] and not just her home,
but in her cabins as well.
[0:57] She was a big entertainer.
[0:59] And my great-grandpa as well,
her husband, whom she adored.
[1:02] - Audrey would often come
over, most days actually,
[1:05] during the River Rendezvous,
and would talk to staff.
[1:08] Really delightful conversations,
I remember having with her.
[1:11] One of the things that I
really appreciated with Audrey
[1:13] was her care about upkeeping the area,
[1:17] along 104th Street in
the area by Kelly Park
[1:19] and Pond-Dakota Mission Park.
[1:21] - [Inezsa] People refer to
her as "Kelly Park's Angel."
[1:23] She did more than just pick
weeds and make it look nice.
[1:26] She gave the park personality
and made it beautiful.
[1:28] - And when I pick all the weeds,
[1:30] and then I put 'em by the tree,
[1:32] base of the tree, and
the guys that work here,
[1:35] and they come with their
tractor, they pick them all up.
[1:38] - [Inezsa] That's nice.
[1:38] - [Audrey] But isn't the park nice?
[1:40] - [Inezsa] Yeah, it's so pretty.
[1:41] - She was out in the park,
rain or shine pretty much.
[1:44] She did a lot of hard work.
[1:45] And I always joke that she
should get paid by the city
[1:50] for all the hard work that she does.
[1:52] - She never mentioned
to me all of the weeding
[1:57] and cleaning and everything that she did
[1:59] to keep the neighborhood looking neat.
[2:01] She just said she was out for a walk.
[2:04] And I think that says a
lot about who Audrey was,
[2:06] a very humble person
[2:07] who just wanted to give
back to the community
[2:10] in the way that she could.
[2:12] - With that, would you please join me
[2:13] in congratulating Audrey
Eichstadt for this award?
[2:16] (tender music continues)
(audience applauding)
[2:17] - And so I was really surprised
[2:19] when I was told that I
was gonna get an award
[2:23] for digging weeds (laughing).
(audience laughing)
[2:26] - [Inezsa] I think it was well-deserved.
[2:27] I do feel grateful for
those who did vote for her.
[2:30] And I'm glad that she was
able to touch so many people
[2:34] in that way and bring a
smile to so many people.
[2:37] - [Chris] She was known
by all the neighbors.
[2:39] They all asked about her.
[2:40] They all talked to her.
[2:41] - [Inezsa] So I know that every parkgoer
[2:43] who would be a passerby,
[2:44] she would always catch their attention
[2:45] and they would spark up a conversation.
[2:47] I would like people just
to remember her kindness
[2:49] in the little ways
[2:50] that she made them feel
valued and important.
[2:54] - It wasn't the same around there
[2:56] without her strolling through the park.
[2:57] And she will be missed.
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