True revitalization of assets inside a community requires lots more than spinning furiously and kicking up dust.
It takes vision, sustained action and persistence, the kind we’re seeing from Art Spaces Inc.’s Turn to the River project.
Turn to the River won a massive financial infusion last week when it learned it had received $75,000 from the Wabash River Regional Development Authority. The funds fulfill a required one-to-one match for a previous $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2017.
The Turn to the River project is aimed at creating a walking promenade between Terre Haute’s City Hall, the Vigo County Courthouse and the Wabash River.
The grant is especially significant given that the regional development authority awarded the project half of its funding allocation from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. That means these important outside entities clearly recognized the development value and economic impact of Turn to the River.
The project is in its public art and design phase and is envisioned to include a public green space with an overlook to the river and possibly a performance venue.
Art Spaces will now select a design company for the project, with detailed designs scheduled to be completed early next year.
A project of this scope will take time to develop, but Turn to the River has been well-received by both public and private sectors of the community. It is a project that’s long overdue, and we commend Art Spaces for its continued commitment to making it happen.