Progress continues in Elkhart on a placemaking project on the Civic Plaza and Central Park.

The goal of the project, which will be completed in three phases, is to facilitate better utilization of the space – both daily and during events – and to create a vibrant civic gathering place.

With a preliminary design of phase one now complete, the city is once again seeking community feedback.

Phase One will include the most popular features identified through public input, primarily focusing on enhancements to the green space. The preliminary design will be unveiled at a public meeting held in the Common Council Chambers on Tuesday, July 9, at 5:15 p.m.

Representatives of urban design team Rundell Ernstberger Associates as well as City staff will be available at the Open House to answer questions and collect feedback.

REA will then incorporate this feedback into a final design concept, which will be presented at a forthcoming meeting of the Elkhart Redevelopment Commission. Construction on phase one is anticipated to break ground by the end of 2019.

Since the process began in August 2018, hundreds of interested members of the community have participated in public input sessions, online surveys, and various stakeholder meetings.

For more information, visit www.elkhartcivicplaza.com.