Noblesville unveils plans for new park, extend downtown area
West Gateway Park, the 6.4 acres between Ind. 19 and Logan and Conner streets, provides Noblesville with several opportunities – an economic catalyst, home for a permanent amphitheater, the first view of the city from the east, a gathering place and the extension of downtown over White River.
“There’s such a ginormous impact on the community. It extends downtown and makes the west side of the town connected to downtown. As much of an asset as the river is, this takes it out as a barrier,” Parks Director Brandon Bennett said. “From a parks standpoint, it adds a really unique opportunity for the community. I just think there is a lot of programing opportunities and the idea of the plan is exciting to me because we don’t have that anywhere else.”
Deputy Mayor Mike Hendricks, who is overseeing the project, said the goal is to create another amenity in Noblesville and serve as an economic driver.
“It’s a nice area where people can go and congregate,” he said. “It’ll be pretty amazing once it’s completed.”
The Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission has plans to move its annual Shakespeare in the Park series to the park each summer. The park also can help the city with its tax base and provide more employment opportunities if the private sector develops in areas adjacent to the park.
“There’s a lot of available property over there and we hope this is the catalyst to bring in the private investment. There are areas that have been for sale for quite a while,” Hendricks said. “It’s an enhancement to the east side (of downtown) but each are complimentary to each other. This is a large part in getting people to move on property that is around there.”
Hendricks said the complete project, with pedestrian bridge, will cost approximately $11 to $12 million. “That’s with every element, but we can’t bite off that much at once,” he said.
The costs of elements are not yet finalize, but funding will come from a variety of areas, including federal and state grants, the city’s park impact fees and Logan Street TIF district. Hendricks said the TIF district started in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He said the original project was the streetscape that evolved to include the city’s public safety building. Recent developments at the Statehouse have caused the district to end in 2025, altering the park’s phasing.
Timeline
Early 2013 – While the city has looked at the land for the past four years, officials didn’t begin to strategize the use of the area until a year ago. Hendricks said the land, which is in a floodplain, is very difficult to build on. “The cost to shape it into buildable property really goes up because of these issues,” he said.
August – The Noblesville Common Council approved the purchase of the area and its plan to build a park.
November – The city unveiled its layout and design thoughts at the First Friday Soup Cook-off.
March 12 – A public meeting was held to discuss the park and garner input.
Spring – Input from the community added as architects finalize design plans and costs.
Early 2015 – Groundbreaking and construction will begin on the park. The park will be built in phases depending on costs, but the initial phase will likely include the amphitheater, parking lot, trails and green space.
Splash pad – Unlike the Dillon Park splash park, Hendricks said the splash pad has no elements which means lower operating costs. The splash pad utilizes interactive jets that spray water up into the air. Plans call for daily use of the pad. During the winter, the city is looking to find an outside company to use the pad as an ice skating rink.
Story walls – Officials are still work- ing on the parameters of the wall
and whether it will be permanent or interchangeable. “It will tell the story of Noblesville,” Hendricks said. “It’s not been set. We’re still flushing it out.” The wall will provide space for public art and along with the trees will serve as a retaining area and bar- rier between the park and Ind. 32 so pedestrians are safer.
Parking lot – The approximate size of the lot is unknown yet, but plans call for the farmer’s market to use the lot and interior trail system to host their weekly event. The park’s trails are wide enough for cars to drive through and setup booths. “It opens up the entire park to be utilized,” Hendricks said.
Trails – The trail within the park will connect to Riverwalk with a pedestrian friendly bridge over White River. From Riverwalk, pedestrians can access Forest Park and Midland Trace trail. “Eventually someone from Carmel or Indianapolis could ride the Monon Trail and Midland Trace to Noblesville,” Hendricks said.
Support facility – One or possibly two facilities will provide storage areas and restrooms at each side of the park. Hendricks said the areas could be used for small meeting spaces. While one facility is planned for the park, the city is in talks with Ameriana Bank for its building.
Going green – Hendricks said the park is trying to use as many recyclable materials as possible, including capturing the splash pad water for the sprinkler system and using parking lot runoff for a rain garden. “We’re trying to be good stewards,” Hendricks said. Ind. 19 enhancements will make it more pedestrian friendly with traffic calming elements and landscaping.
Amphitheater – The music space will be large enough for a band or orchestra. “It’s a permanent stage that can be underwater. Everything was built with that understanding – if it floods it can be power washed and ready to go,” Hendricks said. Plans also call for a “Note Park,” which include musical instruments in the walls of the stage. “It turns the stage into a play element,’ Hendricks said.
