GARY — The Steel City’s renaissance continues to take shape, fueled by innovators and funded by grants.
The third Civic Innovators Convening at the Diamond Club at the RailCats' U.S. Steel Yard recently gave six Knight Cities Challenge 2017 applicants the opportunity to pitch their ideas to guests. At stake were two Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund grants awarded by Legacy Foundation — $25,000 for the first-place winner and $10,000 for second place.
Now in its third year, the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Cities Challenge has provided major grants for two innovative ideas in Gary two years in a row. Since 2015, the Knight Foundation has invested $15 million to encourage everyone to have a stake in the future of Gary and 25 other cities throughout the United States hit by declining circumstances.
“Over 100 great ideas were submitted this year,” said Carolyn Saxton, President & CEO of the Merrillville-based Legacy Foundation that serves as a conduit in Lake County for the Knight Cities Challenge.
Three projects designed to enhance Gary and create more public spaces are finalists in the national competition. Those projects — Ballpark Plaza Idea, the Gary Ruins Garden Project and In Love in Gary, Indiana — are among 144 finalists from 26 communities nationwide vying for their share of up to $5 million.
The Knight Foundation chose the Gary projects from a pool of more than 4,500 applicants. Winners will be announced in June, said Michelle Huttenhoff, the Knight Foundation's Community Foundations program associate, at Wednesday’s event.
“We want a three-peat,” said Saxton to the cheers of guests.
Although the six projects pitched at the event weren’t among those finalists, the applicants were selected to each give 5-minute presentations then take questions for another 5 minutes, she said.
As guests entered, they were each given a $1,000 “bill." After all six presentations were completed, the guests voted for their favorite project by putting their “money” in the box marked with that project’s name.
Zully Alvarado presented her idea for the Marquette Park Lagoon Blue-Green Garden for All to create a barrier-free, interactive garden with the Marquette Park Lagoon. The garden would engage artists in a competitive process to design sculptures, benches and such table games as chess, checkers and backgammon to “meet the needs of all, including persons with disabilities.”
Innovators Suite transforms coffee shop
Ken Patrick Barry, executive director of City Life Center NWI, told guests about his Innovators Suite project would transform an existing space into a coffee shop that would also serve as a place where coders, artists, civic-minded community leaders and public servants could collaborate.
Proposal extends Marquette Trail
Jack Eskin’s Marquette Trail Extension Project would extend and enhance Gary's Marquette Trail by activating a two-mile long abandoned railroad corridor into a multi-use path.
Family Fridays idea pitched
Tyrell Anderson presented his project, Family Fridays, to create a fun environment with large games that everyone can enjoy. Larger versions of chess, corn hole, crafts and more would draw the local community outside of their homes and create a space where everyone can interact together.
Railroad Roots would create train festival
Jessica Renslow and Gretchen Sipp told guests about their project, Railroad Roots, to create a train festival in Gary. Tourists would be able to ride the South Shore trains directly into Gary. They would be greeted by a host of docents (guides) and a festive atmosphere that highlights local food vendors, musicians, artisans and the four existing train structures within the city.
Northwest Social Network proposed
Crystal O’Brien’s Northwest Social Network would build a bridge of existing/aspiring businesses and customers in a relaxed and friendly environment through networking events. Social events would have a theme that would both attract and retain community members by taking the pressure off networking.
Barry’s Innovators Suite garnered the most votes – 22 $1,000 “bills.” Legacy Foundation awarded him the $25,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund.
Anderson’s Family Fridays project secured the second most votes with 19 “bills." Legacy Foundation awarded his project a $10,000 grant from the Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund. Anderson is president of the Decay Devils organization.
In 2016, Steel City Salvage’s project won almost $400,000 in the Knight Cities Challenge and is using the funds to establish a reuse facility that will reclaim building materials, such as lumber, from vacant homes in Gary to contribute to economic growth.