HUNTINGBURG — By the end of next year, areas of Huntingburg will look different.
The city will have a long-awaited railroad overpass over Styline Drive, a new Market Street Park and an improved Fourth Street that will include a walking trail.
“Think about that,” Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner said this morning during his sixth State of the City address. “By the end of 2018, we will have a new railroad overpass, a new downtown park and an enhanced downtown historic district, just to name a few.”
Spinner and new Southwest Dubois Schools Superintendent Tim LaGrange spoke to more than 60 people this morning at Old Town Hall.
With the cooperation of the community, Huntingburg has been able to make various improvements over the last year, Spinner said.
“Groundbreaking ceremonies have been held this year for the long-awaited railroad overpass project and at Hunter’s Crossing,” he said. “In August we participated in the opening of the Lofts at St. Joseph’s, which brought 45 senior living apartments to Huntingburg and began the revitalization of the former hospital building. Ribbon cuttings have welcomed seven new businesses to our community, five of those in the downtown.”
Improvements won’t stop there, he said. “The recent designation of the U.S. 231 corridor as an Economic Development Target Area allows us to plan for additional enhancements along the most-traveled corridor in Huntingburg,” he said.
Spinner recognized the continuation of community events like the Herbstfest, the Garden Gate Festival, the Latino Festival, the Back to School Bash and Haunted Huntingburg.
He also recognized last year’s “Get Out and Serve” event on Sept. 11, at which hundreds of people served the community through projects throughout the city. “This day demonstrated in a very public way what makes me most proud of Huntingburg,” Spinner said. “When a need is identified, a need is met.”
Spinner talked about residents helping each other during the flooding that happened in the city at the end of April.
“Neighbor helped neighbor during that time right after the storm passed,” he said. “Relief teams were formed and everyone worked together to help those most affected. Many are still facing struggles from the effects of the storm and much is still to be done. But Huntingburg responded as it always does. A need was seen. A need was met.”
Since the city was named a Stellar Communities in August 2014, different subcommittees have been working diligently on developing various projects that will use the funding available through the Stellar program.
“What most of the Stellar Committee considers as the signature project is about to begin,” Spinner said. “On Tuesday night, the Council will consider awarding the bid for construction of the Market Street Park, which will transform the area just east of where we are now. It will create the type of space that rural communities all need to remain viable. And the plan was developed the Huntingburg way. We had total involvement of all stakeholders, the City, the State of Indiana, private investors and most importantly, the citizens of Huntingburg who helped guide this visionary project."
Although the projects under Stellar do get a lot of attention, Spinner said city services have not been ignored. “Every department in the city has kept their focus on serving our citizens to the best of their ability,” he said, “and within their respective budgets.”
The city has used $2 million for road projects, which includes funding from the state Community Crossings program. Some of the projects he mentioned were the 11th Street reconstruction, rebuilding Washington Street north of Sixth Street, which is almost done, and an upgrade of County Road 400 West between 12th Street and Phoenix Drive, which will start soon. Last week, the city submitted its application for the next round of Community Crossings grants; $700,000 in projects is being proposed for funding.
Huntingburg’s future must be focused beyond Stellar, Spinner said. “The vision beyond Stellar is not only to continue to do the things from a physical nature that make our city stronger,” he said, “but the larger challenge is to address the more human needs in Huntingburg.
“There is a need for increased health care in our community,” Spinner continued. “There is a need for increased housing opportunities at all levels. There is a need for better communication and collaboration with our growing Latino population. All these are the real quality-of-life issues.”
Spinner believes Huntingburg is ready to address those issues.
“My vision for Huntingburg is an open and caring community for anyone who wants to come to Huntingburg to start a life and raise a family. I want everyone to feel welcomed,” he said. “I want Huntingburg to be the kind of place that invites families to not only grow in but to stay in.”
Community members are encouraged to contact the city with feedback about day-to-day operations and suggestions for the city’s future.
“The only problems we cannot address are those we are not aware of,” Spinner said. “We cannot grow and thrive without your input. It is your community. Tell us how we can continue to progress.”
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