The Huntingburg City Council listened to comments from the public Tuesday night in regards to the proposed Market Street Park.
As many as four people spoke of the park which is considered a Stellar Project with feelings running half and half. During the hearing required by the Indiana Department of Community and Rural Affairs, one local resident expressed concern over the concept art for the project, that featured a current drive access to the back of his house cut off.
Members of the council were very receptive to the concerns and pointed out the concept art is not the final design, and as more public hearings happen a part of those will be input on design to meet concerns such as this. They say the project will not change current access to market street.
Costs for the total project are in the ballpark of around 2.9 million dollars of which the city has received around 1.4 million in help from OCRA leaving a balance of 1 and a half million.
Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner says the city has lined up enough funding for the remainder of that balance.
The Market Street discussion was just a public hearing to gather public comment and information. No decisions have yet to be decided by council members.
This project has been in the planning stages since 2013 and has been one of the big focal points in the stellar plans. The main idea is to make the area a community gathering point connecting Market to 4th Street, to provide better parking, and space for families and the potential to hold future and current community festivals, such as the Garden Gate Jazz & Wine Fest and Haunted Huntingburg.
Another public hearing is planned soon. If given the go ahead the construction of the Market Street project could begin sometime next year.
