Valparaiso's plans for an arts corridor along Indiana Avenue was not enough to take it to the next level to become one of "America's Best Communities."
Regardless of the competition's outcome, Tyler Kent, the city's planning director, has said plans for the arts corridor would move forward, though participating in the competition tightened the timeline for coming up with a plan for the arts district.
"From our standpoint, we're just really thrilled to have been part of this very creative way to highlight rural and smaller communities," said Mayor Jon Costas, adding he made a lot of friends and was pleased to see Madison move on in the competition. "We gave it our all and I wouldn't change anything."
In all, eight of 15 cities were selected Wednesday to move on to the final tier of competition in the program, and each was awarded $100,000 to continue development of their plans. The seven communities that didn't make the final list, including Valparaiso, each received $25,000. Three winners will be selected in April 2017. The first place winner will receive $3 million; followed by $2 million for second and $1 million for third.
Valparaiso was one of more than 400 communities to enter the competition, and was selected as one of 50 quarterfinalists in April 2015. The city was awarded $50,000 then to develop a community revitalization plan.
"We're going to move forward with implementing that plan," said Kent, who attended the summit with Costas. "It's been great to be able to reach out to the community and get feedback on the plan. It's just a little setback but we're really excited to move forward."
In a presentation before judges Wednesday morning in Durham, N.C., Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and Jessica Corral, chair of the elementary art department for the Valparaiso Community Schools, touted plans for the arts corridor, which will stretch from Napoleon Street to Morgan Boulevard, and answered questions from judges.
City officials turned the downtown from something that was dated into "one of the most vibrant downtowns in the United States," Costas said, adding the downtown renaissance began in 2004 with new restaurants, boutiques, and ultimately Central Park Plaza and the Urschel Pavilion, which features an ice rink in the winter.
Plans for the downtown always included an arts district, Costas said, something that also was listed as a priority in the ValpoNext initiative.
"The creative district is not a stand-alone project, but part of a bigger plan," Costas said, adding the corridor also will connect with Valparaiso University and forge new creative partnerships there.
The district will include a pedestrian-friendly boulevard, free wi-fi, and spaces for artists to live and work, and the city also will establish a creative council to program public space for artists, and a website for artists and visitors, Costas said.
"Our creative district plan is bold but it is within reach," he said, adding the district will have an economic impact of $2 million from outside visitors and $2.7 million in additional wages for the city.
The city is holding "Spring into the Arts" this weekend, Corral said, featuring the work of children in grades kindergarten through 12 at seven downtown landmarks.
Each landmark will have 60 pieces of artwork, she said, drawing families downtown for the event.
"There's no greater gift for our community than to connect through the arts," she said.