A Place To Thrive

First Merchant Bank with Remington Town Manager, Jonathan Cripe

First Merchants Bank of Remington recently contributed $10,000 to the Town of Remington’s Community Park Playground expansion, scheduled for completion in 2027, and we are beyond grateful!

The finish line for completion of the updated, inclusive Remington Community Park Playground is inching closer every day! Scheduled for completion in 2027, this project continues to come together thanks to endless hours of visioning, research, planning, and rallying of support by the Town of Remington community and leadership.

Spearheaded by Town Manager, Jonathan Cripe, this project will change Remington’s future for the better. The inclusive playground will give families access to a safe, welcoming space where children of all abilities can make friends and play side by side with other kids.

We are proud of our Remington community for unifying around this important placemaking initiative, and we are thankful to our many supporters, including First Merchants Bank in Remington, which recently made a contribution of $10,000 toward the inclusive playground expansion.

“When our leadership team was presented with the opportunity to be involved in supporting Remington’s playground expansion, there was no hesitation,” said Janet Fox, Senior Market Leader for First Merchants. “There’s nothing better than giving kids of different abilities a place to thrive, where they can socially interact with other kids, feel welcomed, have fun, and learn and grow in a positive environment. For a lot of people in Remington and throughout the area, having access to this type of playground could literally be life-changing. It will nurture the physical and mental well-being of so many kids, and will help parents and caretakers on so many levels.”

First Merchants, founded in 1893, is based in Muncie, Indiana, and is the largest financial services holding company in Central Indiana. First Merchants has 111 banking centers throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, and is also a part of the First Merchants Wealth Management Corporation. In her 11th year with First Merchants, Fox—who grew up in Brookston, Indiana, in White County, not far from Remington, and who oversees 12 banking centers in six different cities—said that the actions and initiative taken by the Town of Remington are a universal source of inspiration.

“Everyone, and all communities, understand the importance of an inclusive playground for kids of all abilities, but it is a huge undertaking,” she said. “I grew up near Remington, and I’ve spent a lot of time there in my work role, so I’ve always known it to be a wonderful, inviting, and family-oriented community. What’s so impressive, though, is the way Town Manager Jon Cripe and Remington’s leadership are completely committed to doing whatever it takes to make this a reality. I have a daughter and children in my life, and as a mother, I know just how important it is for kids to experience social situations and make friendships, especially for kids who might not otherwise have the chance. This project is fantastic for the Town of Remington, and it is an inspiration for surrounding areas and counties.”

A new level of involvement

First Merchants Bank has traditionally supported food drives in Remington and has contributed goods and services for community events, but the company’s most recent contribution demonstrates a stronger level of involvement.

“From a dollar perspective, this is one of the largest contributions we’ve made at our Remington banking center,” said Fox. “It is important to us because we understand the value of the project. When communities thrive, everyone wins. Local residents, businesses, and organizations all benefit from an important project like this. This has also been extremely rewarding for our staff and leadership team. As a company, our goal is to be a part of the communities we serve. We want to truly affect people’s lives in productive and meaningful ways, and not just be seen as people who work at the local bank. We are happy to be involved, and we look forward to the park’s completion.”

Fox noted that the inclusive playground in Remington will also benefit others from the surrounding area.

“When we were first learning about this project, I remember Jon mentioning that families often drive one or two hours away—to Valparaiso and other areas—just to have access to an inclusive playground space for their kids,” said Fox. “In taking on this project, and working so hard to bring it to life, it’s noteworthy that Remington is also helping a lot of families that live in the surrounding, nearby, and rural areas. Thanks to the initiative taken by Remington, families in the entire surrounding area will have a closer inclusive space for their children.”

Thanks and gratitude

On behalf of the Town of Remington, we express deep thanks and gratitude to Janet and her leadership team, and all of our friends at First Merchants Bank. With their help, and the help of so many other donors and contributors, we are well on our way to completing our updated, inclusive Remington Community Park Playground.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to contribute, there are still opportunities to get involved and help bring this important community initiative to life. 

Be part of our story, part of our joy, part of our future, and help us put smiles on the faces of ALL our children!

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