WABASH, Ind. – With the community’s help, the banks of the Wabash River will soon be getting an upgrade.
Earlier this year, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Agency (IHCDA) launched a new grant program called “CreatINg Places”. The IHCDA has selected a proposal to develop the area on the north bank of the Wabash River near the Wabash Street bridge, submitted by the Wabash Marketplace Design Committee, as the program’s first recipient.
“We are so excited to learn that the IHCDA picked our project as its inaugural grant,” said Andrea Zwiebel, Design Committee member. “This project will beautify a very visible gateway to the City, and will add another destination for Wabashians and out-of-towners to visit.”
Plans for the grant include the creation of riverfront plaza featuring two gazebos, seating, and landscaping. There will be a deck area that overlooks the river. The goal is to make it a leisure destination and gathering space for activities like picnics, yoga classes, and bicycle and running races.
Tyler Karst the Wabash Marketplace Project Coordinator tells us:
“There are so many great things going on with the river, with what Mike Beauchamp and his group with the River Defenders are doing, and what Amy Ford and her group are doing with the bike trail,” said Tyler Karst, the Wabash Marketplace Project Coordinator. “And of course the Riverwalk is a great asset to the city. But our group thought there was still some untapped potential in the area around the Wabash River, and we started brainstorming ways to connect it to the downtown area.”
The CreatINg Places program provides a matching grant of $50,000. To receive these funds, the Design Committee must raise $50,000 in donations. The program is designed to mobilize community members, residents and general supporters to make individual contributions for the place-based projects they want to see in their communities. “The IHCDA is partnering with a group called Patronicity, which helps local communities with their fundraising. We have worked with them to create a crowdgranting (similar to crowdfunding) page, which can be found at www.patronicity.com/wabashriverfront. The site provides all of the information about the project, and those who are interested can go there to make contributions.”
Separate from the grant funding, Wabash Marketplace has identified a private investor who is willing to operate an outfitter store. Jordan Tandy, Design Committee member, said, “The City owns a storage building and a small parking lot in the area, and we realized that it would be an ideal spot for a seasonal outfitter store. A place that could rent bicycles, canoes, and kayaks, and sell all the accessories and things that go along with those kinds of activities. We reached out to the mayor about the possibility of that building being used as that kind of business, and he was very supportive of the idea.”
This project will complement other quality of place initiatives already in progress. It will connect the downtown area with the river, increase traffic, attract visitors, and serve as a building block for future development. More information about the project can be found at the Wabash Riverfront Development Project Facebook page or at www.patronicity.com/wabashriverfront . If you would like more details or to make a contribution, contact Tyler at Wabash Marketplace (260) 563-0975, tyler@wabashmarketplace.org.
The Wabash Marketplace Inc. Design Committee consists of Andrea Zwiebel, Jordan Tandy, Abby Hoy, Kayla Sprayue, Matt Haynes, Mary Hettmansperger, Mitch Figert, Pete Jones, Aron Shelton, John Conner, and Tyler Karst.
Wabash Marketplace (WMI) is spearheading a project to develop the northwest bank of the Wabash River! The river is mostly disconnected from the city that bears its name. Although it is just a few hundred feet from Wabash’s downtown area, there is little interaction with the river. This project will change all of that. Once complete, the plaza will become a place to meet, socialize, and enjoy the view of the Wabash River. The space will be activated and transformed into a destination for Wabashians and visitors alike. (And sidewalks connecting downtown to this location are part of the long-range plan!)
Separate from this fundraising campaign, a private investor will operate an outfitter storefront near the plaza with seasonal sporting goods for rental and retail. Add this to the Riverwalk and the Wabash River Trail and we have ourselves “Wabash’s Next Big Destination!” We are thrilled to increase engagement with recreational opportunities on the river!
To make this project a reality, we need your support! Every dollar that you contribute will be matched by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), but only if we reach our goal of $50,000 in local funds! Of course, your donation is tax deductible!
Giving Level Amount Perks
Dinghy Dwellers $1-99 Enter our Plaza Naming Contest!
Paddle Boarder $100-249 Donor Recognition on Social Media
Canoe Captain $250-499 Small Donor Plaque near Plaza
Shipmaster $500-999 Custom Rain Art and Medium Plaque
King of the Kayak $1,000-4,999 Canoe Decal and Medium Plaque
Yacht Livin’ $5,000-9,999 Inaugural Ride in the Canoe and Large Plaque
Riverboat Casino $10,000+ Private picnic at Plaza and Large Plaque
The more you give, the more you receive! You will receive the perks in your Giving Level AND the perks of the Giving Levels leading up to your level! You may mail checks — made out to Wabash Marketplace, Inc. with “Wabash Riverfront Plaza” in the note — to Tyler at:
Wabash Marketplace, Inc.
99 W Canal St
Wabash, IN 46992
If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Karst at 260-563-0975 or tyler@wabashmarketplace.org.
Please note: checks must be received and processed prior to the end of the campaign on Saturday, December 31st, 2016. If you would like an extension until February, please send a pledge letter. We also accept donations online at www.patronicity.com/wabashriverfront.
Thank you for your continued support of progressive projects in Wabash! Traditionally, most of WMI’s projects occur in the downtown core, but we consider the area between the river and the railroad within the downtown corridor. With a commitment to foster community and economic development, we seek strategic funding opportunities to pair with placemaking initiatives. If you’d like to know more, visit our Scope of Work and Creative Placemaking Master Plan at www.wabashmarketplace.org.
Yours Truly,
The #RiverfrontReveal Team with Wabash Marketplace, Inc.
Mary Hettmansperger John Conner Mitch Figert
Matt Haynes Abby Hoy Tyler Karst Aron Shelton
Kayla Sprayue Jordan Tandy Andrea Zwiebel