Heart of Jasper presents conceptual designs for new downtown plaza
The Heart of Jasper presented the Jasper Redevelopment Commission with renderings for a proposed plaza at the corner of Fourth and Main Streets in downtown Jasper.
In a multi-phase approach, the nonprofit group is working to add a trail from the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center to Main Street, with the plaza anchoring the trail to the improved section of Main Street.
Phase I would be the creation of a small plaza in the city-owned parking lot next to Oink, Inc. The group hopes to move forward in conjunction with the second phase of the Downtown Revitalization project, which includes improvements to the Main Street corridor.
To proceed with this phase, the Heart of Jasper will seek approval from the Jasper Common Council to use the parking lot for the project. Then, they must seek approval for an exception to allow a park/plaza downtown.
“We have a series of meetings we need to go to for those answers before we move forward with architectural designs and a fundraising campaign,” Heart of Jasper Executive Director Kate Schwenk told the commission.
The group presented some conceptual ideas for the space, which were created by Rundell Ernstberger Associates, the Indianapolis firm that designed the downtown project. During its December meeting, the redevelopment commission provided the funding for Heart of Jasper to create the designs.
The conceptual plans feature an artificial turf-covered yard flanked by shaded seating areas and canopy swings similar to what is on the Square. A game zone of some sort would be located at the northeast corner of the lot, and public restrooms would be built on the east side of the lot. A large LED screen could be placed on the exterior wall of the bathrooms for viewing movies or sports from the courtyard and turf area.
Heart of Jasper board president Ruger Kerstiens said the space’s versatility means it could be rented for special gatherings.
He acknowledged that 10 parking spaces will be removed from the downtown area if the proposal is approved. “But all the street parking along Main and on Fourth is going to remain intact,” Kerstiens told the commission. “It’s a trade-off that we have to take into consideration. Is the courtyard worth losing 10 parking spaces for?”
The Heart of Jasper feels the space will provide the needed public restrooms in the downtown area and, as the revitalization continues, help provide that connector from Main Street to the Cultural Center, which has been identified as a goal in the city’s comprehensive plan.
That connector would be completed in the project’s second phase, which includes widening sidewalks for the multiuse trail and adding amenity and entertainment areas along the route. The path’s design and layout would maintain the look of what the city has already planned for the improvements on Main Street.
Kerstiens explained Fourth Street would be narrowed but remain a two-way street with parking on both sides.
He told the commission that once the project was completed, it would become a property managed by the Park and Recreation Department. While some questions were asked about maintenance, Kerstiens explained the materials and design were such that they would be easy to maintain. “The main thing is just keeping it cleaned,” he said.
City Planning Director Josh Gunselman said the financial plan had included a discussion about creating an endowment to help with future maintenance and upkeep.
“I think it will be great for the downtown area,” said Councilman Phil Mundy, who serves on the Jasper Redevelopment Commission. “And much needed to connect everything we have.”
This story has been edited to indicate the project is now being described as a plaza rather than a park as originally stated.