Major improvements could be on the way for one South Bend neighborhood.
But before anything is decided, city officials want to hear from you.
Several South Bend community members are coming to IU-South Bend to make sure their voices are heard as the city plans for the future of River Park.
The goal is to give this area a bit of a facelift; one that those with the project say is long overdue.
Tuesday's meeting was a chance for the public to give some input about changes they'd like to see.
“It’s essential to moving forward, those that have the real experience of living in the neighborhood by definition are the residents, or even those that work in the neighborhood, own property and businesses, they can capture what’s happening on a daily basis and help tell us what’s important to them,” said Chris Dressel, Senior Planner, Department of Community Investment.
The timeline for this potential plan spreads from 5 to 20 years.
Several topics were addressed, including infrastructure, open space, amenities, parks, and housing.
We need some kind of identification, when someone comes to River Park, they know they're in River Park. Right now, people can drive down Mishawaka Avenue and never realize that they're in River Park. Secondly, we need better ways of getting around River Park, better sidewalks, bike lanes are there already, but we need to have ways of getting from one place to another and then we need some kind of a focal point in River Park,” said Jim Bayer, Pastor at Gospel Center Missionary Church.
One person pitched suggestions to reduce speeding as well as a need for more trees and green space.
Bayer says the need to draw people into the area and keep them should be at the top of the list.
Potawatomi Park, it is a drawing card. But it's not in the main business district of River Park so if we can get people to come to Potawatomi Park, and not just for the zoo, not just for the swimming pool, which will eventually be reconstructed I hope, but just to come to the park, that would be a great thing to happen,” said Bayer.
More workshops will be held at IUSB's student center throughout the month:
June 7
Potawatomi Park: Conservatory-focused Vision Workshop – 11 a.m.
Potawatomi Park: Aquatics-focused Vision Workshop – 12 p.m., 6 p.m.
June 8
Open input – 10 a.m. through 6 p.m.
Presentation on the neighborhood planning process and visioning exercises – 12 p.m., 6 p.m.
Potawatomi Park: Park-focused Vision Workshop – 7 p.m., 8 p.m.
June 27
Open input – 10 a.m. through 6 p.m.
Summary of planning process, priority setting exercises – 12 p.m., 6 p.m.
June 29
Open input – 10 a.m. through 6 p.m.
Summary of planning process, priority setting exercises – 12 p.m., 6 p.m.