GREENFIELD — Greenfield leaders have big plans for the city over the next decade.
The Greenfield City Council recently approved the city’s 2019-29 Capital Improvement Plan, a proposal that’s meant to guide the city in its future development. City officials have spent the past year talking with community members and determining what could make past planning efforts a reality.
Joanie Fitzwater, planning director for Greenfield, said the capital improvement plan was designed as an extension of the city’s 2013 revitalization plan, which focused on food, fitness and art in Greenfield. Fitzwater said city officials took many of those past ideas, such as creating a Depot Street Park and the Riley Literary Trail, and determined the costs and effort needed for the new 10-year downtown plan.
“A lot of times it’s common to hear that a city does plans and makes all these big dreams out of conversations with the community, and then it sits on a shelf and it never gets built,” she said.
Fitzwater is hoping for the opposite to happen in Greenfield.
The capital improvement plan states in order to complete 21 proposed city projects, it would take an estimated $75 million over 10 years. Much of those costs could come from grant opportunities, Fitzwater said, and the city could complete the projects in stages to keep the projects affordable over the long term.
Many of the projects focus on the city’s history of arts and literature, specifically James Whitcomb Riley. The city received a $1.6 million grant from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Riley Literary Trail. The capital improvement plan states the trail would cost $2.6 million.
Following three public open houses in May, most residents favored creating a Depot Street Park, Fitzwater said. The park would build off the city’s historic brick Depot Street and include an outdoor amphitheater. Many in the public also expressed wanting an ADA-accessible playground at Franklin Park.
While most of these plans could take over 10 years to complete, Fitzwater said Greenfield would be on the fast track for grants if they’re chosen as the 2018 Stellar Communities designee. Greenfield and Fortville partnered as the Health and Heritage region and the group is one of the six finalists in the state. The Mt. Comfort Road Corridor group, consisting of Cumberland, New Palestine and McCordsville, is also a finalist. Regions have to submit their applications by Sept. 21 and the winner will be announced Dec. 6.
No matter what region the state chooses for Stellar, Fitzwater said planning for the years ahead has already been a success for the city.
“We have proven to ourselves we can do this, and here’s how,” she said.
The 10-year capital improvement plan is available on the city’s website.
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The complete Greenfield 2019-29 Capital Improvement Plan is available to view and download on greenfieldin.org.
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