GREENFIELD — The first Stellar Communities project in Greenfield — a downtown park and entertainment hub — should be under construction for most of next summer, a city planner says.
Residents can soon share their ideas on the proposed design of the future Depot Street Park, located along the historic brick Depot Street between Riley Avenue and Pennsylvania Street and next to the Pennsy Trail in downtown Greenfield. City leaders hope the space will provide the city with a downtown park with pieces of art, seating and a performance space suitable for concerts, shows and other events.
Context Design, a Fortville-based firm, and city planners will present three concepts for the park, as well as ideas for amenities, at a 5:30 p.m. public hearing on Wednesday in Greenfield City Hall. The city intends to apply for a $1.6 million Community Development Block Grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and match the grant using $430,000 from the city’s Riverboat Fund.
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Greenfield is fast-tracked to receive the grant through Stellar. The Health and Heritage Region, comprised of Greenfield, Fortville and Hancock County, was chosen as one of two Stellar winners for 2019. The group can receive up to $15 million in grants for quality-of-life projects over five years.
Joanie Fitzwater, city planner, said project leaders want to know what residents think of the potential designs of the $2 million park. At Hancock County Community Night a few weeks ago, the city received about 600 responses on the project, and Fitzwater wants even more community input Wednesday.
“We work really hard to make sure our projects are community-driven, so that’s why we really hope people will show up to these public meetings,” Fitzwater said. “If we’re not building what the public wants to use, then we’re wasting time and money.”
The three concepts for the park show different locations for an outdoor stage as well as the park’s overall design of landscaping and seating areas. Fitzwater said the park will also have public art. She wants to know what type of art people would like to see: functional, interactive, “Instagrammable,” iconic or a stage as art. Meeting attendees will see examples of each type of public art.
The downtown area slated for Depot Street Park, which is next to a large grain elevator, is owned by the city of Greenfield. Fitzwater said the power lines that run through the area will have to be buried to prepare for construction. An environmental study is also being conducted on the former railroad depot.
Fitzwater said she envisions local theater groups and musicians performing at the park. It could also be the new home for Entertainment on the Plaza, to move those concerts away from the truck traffic of State Road 9 and U.S. 40. Fitzwater said planting the park away from the courthouse square would allow residents to use other areas of downtown for events and recreation.
The city will apply for the $1.6 million grant in September, and the state will most likely award it in October. Fizwater said the project could then go out to bid in March 2020, and construction will last most of next summer.
If any residents cannot come to the Wednesday meeting, the project will also be discussed at the Greenfield City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 11.
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WHAT: A public hearing on Depot Street Park, a Stellar project
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21
WHERE: Greenfield City Hall, 10. S. State St.
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