Funding for Indiana cities is more austere than when the Riverfront Master Plan was finalized in December.
(Ethan Sandweiss, WTIU)
A 10-year plan to develop Terre Haute’s riverfront into an economic driver and recreational destination launched Wednesday to much fanfare at Indiana State’s Hulman Center.
Terre Haute’s stretch of the Wabash River flows past industrial businesses and undeveloped forests. The Wabash Riverfront Master Plan aims to develop the waterfront while protecting local ecosystems. That means building neighborhoods, expanding trails and reserving public space by the banks.
Lori Danielson, riverfront development director for the city, said the Wabash River has historically been one of Terre Haute’s main environmental assets. The plan, she said, is to develop it as an economic asset.
“The Wabash River has been the cornerstone of Terre Haute’s beginning,” she said. “It’s created our culture and our social growth for centuries.”
The Wabash Riverfront Master Plan has been years in the making, since Terre Haute launched the first surveys in 2023. Throughout the process, planners say they’ve heard from more than 1,600 residents and over 100 in public engagement sessions. The Terre Haute City Council and the Vigo County Council approved the master plan two weeks ago.
Mayor Brandon Sakbun, who grew up in Terre Haute, is drawing on the ways other cities have revitalized their waterways.
“I would say that vision came, honestly, from traveling outside of Terre Haute, seeing what other Hoosier communities and Midwest communities have invested in their river,” he said. “Whether that’s Owensboro, Kentucky, Evansville or Fort Wayne, Indiana.”
He added that since the plan was approved, he’s heard from 17 interested developers.
Under the plan, Fairbanks Park (above) will be integrated into a new Park District. (Devan Ridgway, WTIU)
The city and local nonprofit RiverScape are proposing seven new districts to bring character to the area around the waterfront, such as the Gateway District just across the U.S. 150 bridge, the Aerospace District around the General Electric facility and the River District for habitat restoration along the bend of the river.
The city will also rename and redesign First Street as Riverside Drive, installing paths, trees and protected sidewalks along the north-south thoroughfare.
Financial hurdles, however, could complicate Terre Haute’s vision.
Funding for Indiana cities is more austere than when the master plan was finalized in December. Budget cuts at the state and federal level are constricting the sort of grants relied upon for public projects.
Sakbun said he’s preparing to roll with the punches and diversify sources of funds, such as using developer-backed TIF bonds and grants from private organizations including the Lilly Foundation.
“I do believe if state and federal funding does get cut and grant programs are fewer, we’ve just got to be more competitive, right?” Sakbun said. “The cream’s just gotta rise to the top there, and I’m confident the City of Terre Haute is going to do that.”
