By Joseph S. Pete, Daily Journal of Johnson County staff writer
Naysayers will criticize Greenwood's plans for Old Town revitalization, but the project will stimulate the economy and encourage more development, Mayor Charles Henderson said.
He called on residents to lobby the city council in support of the city's revitalization efforts during his annual state of the city address. He asked for public support of the plan, which would require the city to spend tax dollars on three reconstructed roads and improvements to Old City Park.
"People will say the park is a luxury," Henderson said. "You bet it is. But it's also an economic development tool. Businesses will see that it's a destination, an area that people want to drive to or walk to, and they'll want to come to make some investment there.
"That to me is a stimulus package."
The sluggish economy has caused job losses, business closings and other difficulties in Greenwood. But city government is in good shape and making progress on projects that could spur economic growth, Henderson said.
Government can't bring about economic recovery, which will have to come from the private sector, he said. But government can partner with the private sector to create opportunities on projects such as the Worthsville Road interchange.
Henderson touted projects the city was working on, including the addition of a trail and a sledding hill at Freedom Park, which he said would improve quality of life for residents.
Other issues he mentioned included Greenwood planning a major summer arts festival, working to get a third Interstate 65 interchange and looking into a merger with the Center Grove area.
"Times are tough, but we can't stick our head in the sand," he said. "We need to keep looking forward and try to make things happen."
In the next month or two, Henderson plans to bring Old Town revitalization plans before the city council, which he said would require a public investment.
The city will need to make Old City Park a destination by widening Pleasant Creek, adding a splash area and making other upgrades, Henderson said.
Future phases of the project will include building a new boulevard from Main Street into the park, rebuilding Machledt Drive farther north, widening Madison Avenue between Machledt and Main, and expanding Main between Madison and Meridian Street, which would require historic buildings to come down.
The construction work would create short-term construction jobs and allow for redevelopment that would let the private sector create new long-term jobs in an area that's been struggling, Henderson said.
Critics will suggest that the area is doing fine, that it's bad timing, that the city rampantly spends tax dollars and that redevelopment would destroy the history of the downtown, he said.
"You're going to hear every reason in the world not to move forward," he said. "But now is the time for the city to step up, and people have to be willing to get in the game."
Henderson asked supporters to be vocal, encouraging them to call, e-mail and write all seven city council members. People must show up at city council meetings and speak in favor of the project if they want to see it happen, he said.
"They call it home-court advantage because there's an advantage when the fans and spectators are vocal," he said. "We need the hometown fans to be vocal."
Greenwood can pursue federal and state grants for some of the work but will have to spend property tax dollars, which council members have been averse to doing on past projects, he said.
"You're going to hear why we shouldn't do it," Henderson said. "If we don't do anything to the Old Town, it will deteriorate more than it already has, and we won't have been good stewards or helped stimulate the economy. If you want to see this, get in the game and make some noise."