By Anna Skinner
A full house was present Feb. 16 at the Brick Street Inn as Mayor Tim Haak spoke on the state of the Town of Zionsville.
Haak began his presentation with comments on Zionsville’s reorganization with Perry Township and the expansion of the town. The Perry Township Fire Dept. will be merging with Zionsville’s. Haak also mentioned Zionsville was ranked the safest city in the state and No. 9 in the nation.
In terms of public safety, Zionsville is working to launch the Zionsville Youth Assistance Program.
“We are going to help coordinate county-wide programs and services for troubled youths and kids in school,” Haak said. “A lot of times teachers and administrators are the first ones to spot something a little off or different in a child.”
Haak’s main points covered economic development, infrastructure and parks.
Economic Development
Haak said in the summer, the PNC Bank lot the town purchased will be available for sale.
“The town owns that,” he said. “We will be able to pick and choose who we want to go there.”
He also touched on the new town hall the town is planning.
“We have outgrown our current facility. It’s too small, outdated and getting ready to fall down. There’s way too much work to rehab it. It’s time for us to grow and expand,” Haak said.
Infrastructure
Zionsville recently constructed its first roundabout at Mulberry Street and Bloor Lane, which Haak said has helped with the flow of school traffic. Later this year, a second roundabout at Mulberry Street and Ford Road will be constructed. Haak said the town is keeping an eye on the Statehouse and a few road funding bills that could be passed soon.
Parks
“We have one of the more robust, better park systems on the north side of Indianapolis,” Haak said.
Forty-three acres of land off Zionsville Road and Eagle Creek was recently donated to the town to build another park.
A new, 5,000-square-foot nature center will begin construction soon, as the current nature center has restricted hours because it is on school-owned property.
