Of the nine Stellar Community projects in Huntingburg, none are as visible as the streetscape planned for Fourth Street and the creation of the Market Street Park behind the Old Town Hall.
The two projects will dramatically enhance one of the most unique features of the town by turning the area into a four-block entertainment and destination piece.
During the regular Huntingburg Common Council meeting Tuesday evening, Scott Seifker of Taylor Siefker Williams, the design firm for the project, and Nick Jahn of VS Engineering, gave an update on the plans and progress for the two projects.
For Market Street Park, bid letting will likely occur in May with final selection of contractors by June. Construction will begin in August and be completed by June of 2018.
Here is a fly through of the park presented early in the project’s design.
Many of the overall features of the park have remained consistent through the process. At the north end of the park, there will be an open entrance from Fourth Street, just east of the Current Blend building. It will include a plaza with tables and seating.
The park will have east, west, north and south entrances. At the north end of the park, there will be an open entrance from Fourth Street, just east of the Current Blend building. It will include a plaza with tables and seating.
The north entrance from Fourth Street will include a plaza with seating that leads into terraced steps that eventually become grass covered to provide seating for the smaller portion of an entertainment/performance pavilion. Along the east side of this entrance will be an ADA accessible ramp. South of that will be a lawn terrace, which includes seating that will face a performance pavilion. The pavilion could be used as a
The south side of the pavilion will be a larger stage facing a lawn leading up to the center of the park behind the Old Town Hall.
The east entrance from U.S. 231/Main St. will feature a new fountain and a clear line of sight to the iconic Old Town Hall. Parking will still be available from this entrance but it will be covered to provide flexible uses for events like the Huntingburg Farmers’ Market and the Garden Gate Jazz festival.
Approaching the back of the Old Town Hall, the porch already there will be extended into a much more appropriate and usable patio.
To the south of this, a section called the legacy court will include benches, swings and a short wall flanking a circular walkway. The wall will feature images recognizing important aspects of the city like its Stellar designation.
The South entrance walkway will transition to a more appropriate atmosphere recognizing the change from the commercial district on Fourth Street to the residential area along Third.
The west entrance will have some extended parking flanking the Old Town Hall to replace some of the spaces lost in the central area.