EAST CHICAGO — The public's voice has been heard as the city strives to enhance quality of life for its residents.
The Parks and Recreation Department's five-year master plan will be used to modernize the city's parks and recreation facilities, as well as the marina and lakefront amenities.
The city also has made strides in bringing businesses to the city, enhancing its fiber network and redeveloping older buildings and properties to encourage new housing and commercial growth.
The $3.1 million Harbor Walk project will include large stainless-steel beach ball and umbrella structures that will provide decor and photo opportunities along the way.
"We already did have some things in mind of what we thought was needed, and it was good to see that a lot of residents kind of are asking for the same thing," said Mayra Acosta, director of East Chicago Parks and Recreation.
The city hosted three focus groups in March and collected 402 online and hard-copy surveys to help formulate its parks plan.
"A large portion was asking for a skating rink," Acosta said. The problem is deciding where to locate it, she said.
"We were thinking about doing it over at the golf course during the winter," Acosta said.
She said there are two ponds at MacArthur Golf Course that could be used for skating, but a professional opinion first must be sought regarding safety and liability.
"That's not going to be done this year, but it is part of the five-year plan," Acosta said.
The city has had skating rinks in the past.
Acosta found a fascinating report of the city's Department of Public Parks dating back to 1931 that mentioned ice skating rinks at Tod Park and Washington High School being filled to capacity.
The report also referred to the small zoo that was located in Washington Park as late as the 1950s. There are no plans to bring back the zoo.
City officials broke ground last week on renovations to the old Fitzsimmons retail property. The $4 million project is part of the city's lakefront revitalization initiative being funded by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and the East Chicago Urban Enterprise Association.
The Fitzsimmons Redevelopment building in the city's Harbor section will feature commercial and residential space, including first-floor, two-bedroom townhomes, and should be completed by early 2019.
The city already had made strides in garnering economic development with the arrival in 2016 of Hoist Liftruck from Bedford Park, Illinois, to the old Blaw-Knox tank factory building on Railroad Avenue. The company plans to employ 500 workers by 2020 in its 550,000-square-foot plant.
The city also has spent almost $8 million this year on street projects and alley resurfacing, including work on Euclid Avenue that involved converting it into a three-lane roadway with bike paths and decorative crosswalks.
Block Stadium also is undergoing a $4 million renovation.
East Chicago also recently completed construction of a 17-mile, high-speed fiber optic broadband network, city spokesman Steve Segura said.
The 72-strand single-mode fiber optic loop that includes the business areas of Chicago Avenue, Indianapolis Boulevard and Columbus Drive was completed at a cost of $1.7 million.
"We're the first ones in Northwest Indiana to complete this," Segura said at the time.
He said the city now can network its nearly 700 high-resolution cameras that provide security and assist the Police Department as well.
Kevin Klocek, East Chicago's director of information technology, said Chesterton and Valparaiso are nearby municipalities that are in the process of completing municipal-owned fiber networks.
The city's network will allow it to install free Wi-Fi hot spots in public areas throughout the city — including the marina and parks.
City wants to reclaim lakeshore for fun
Segura said much of the railing for the Harbor Walk has been completed and benches are being worked on now.
A stage has been built at Jeorse Park Beach, and the city's Teen Beach Bash scheduled for June 8 likely will be one of the first major events held there.
"I believe the concrete pad is just about done," Segura said.
He said the city plans to build a permanent stage at the lakefront as part of an overall effort to reclaim the lakefront and make it more accessible to residents, with more activities offered there.
A splash pad and new shelters have been added at the lakefront, and Segura said new boat docks completed at the marina last year are state of the art.
He said watercraft and paddle boats likely will be available for visitors this summer.
One project that already has been started is installing a wheelchair swing at Veterans Park.
Acosta said Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant swings already are located throughout city parks but require a person to be lifted onto them as opposed to this one, which will allow a person to go on the swing in his or her wheelchair.
"We are also looking to do art in the parks," Acosta said.
She said instead of cutting down the many dead trees in the parks, there will be an open bidding process for artists to submit proposals to turn the trees into pieces of art, which could include carving them.
Acosta said large musical instruments, including a drum set, will be cemented in and added to two of the city parks.
More recreation improvements
MacArthur Golf Course will get a new trail, and trails will be added to the Nunez and Riley parks this year.
Basketball courts will be redone in city parks this year, and upgrades and repairs will be made to the greenhouse in Washington Park.
Although the five-year plan has been completed, funding has not yet been guaranteed.
"That's something we have to look for to be able to accomplish everything that we want," Acosta said.
She said funding will be sought from the state, and the city also might contribute.
Residents also can look forward to two new community centers opening this year.
The new Heritage Hall, 4506 Tod Ave., scheduleded to open next month, will include a fitness center, indoor walking track and full-court basketball.
A new Penn Center, to be located off of Guthrie and Broadway streets, is expected to be completed this summer and will offer the same amenities.