The South Calumet Avenue business district and the downtown business district in Chesterton may soon be linked via a multi-use path that planners are calling the Calumet Connection.
As part of phase one of the process, the town and consulting firm Butler, Fairman & Seufert of Indianapolis hosted a public input session on Monday in order to gather information prior to making a plan and design.
The Calumet Connection will be a half-mile stretch on the west side of Calumet Avenue that will link the existing path completed during the South Calumet Triangle reconstruction in 2010 to the sidewalks downtown.
The plan also seeks to function as part of the Duneland-Kankakee Trail through the town.
Some existing sidewalks will need to be expanded but others will need to be constructed and planners unveiled renderings of possible scenarios.
Butler, Fairman & Seufert was secured through a 80/20 grant for $30,000 from the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC).
"In 2012 the town completed a master plan for the Duneland-Kankakee Trail and at that time three routes were identified," said Jason Griffin, landscape architect with the firm. "Calumet Avenue was in all three options so based on that, the town put in a trail on 1100 North to Abbey Lane as part of the South Calumet business district. This is the next phase, a critical link that will connect that district to the downtown business district."
Griffin, along with Associate Town Engineer Chris Nesper and Jessica Gordon, graduate landscape architect for the consulting firm, answered questions about the plan while presenting renderings and a slide presentation.
"Direct mailings went to individual property owners to attend our steering committee meetings and share their concerns on how we can make it best for everyone," said Griffin.
He said they have previously met with town officials, representatives from NIPSCO, and members of NIRPC.
They are seeking input on the route, utilities, stormwater drainage, and landscaping with the addition of benches and lighting.
"Considering you have nice restaurants and parks downtown, now residents will have choices without having to get in a car and they can be more active," Griffin said.
The firm seeks to have a draft of the plan to present to the public on Sept. 24 at Chesterton Town Hall with a final presentation of the plan Nov. 9 to the Chesterton Town Council.