The City of Austin hosted a Ribbon Cutting Celebration of the new Austin Community Park last Thursday, Sept. 25. This long-awaited project represents collaboration between state and local leaders, community partners, and private businesses committed to enhancing quality of life in Austin.
In 2022, the City of Austin Parks Board was awarded a $900,000 grant through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Land & Water Conservation Fund. The grant was a 50/50 match, with local funding provided by the Austin Redevelopment Commission, the City of Austin, and the Jennings Township Trustee.
These funds supported major upgrades to the park, including the addition of a splash park, disc golf course, skate park, ADA-accessible playground equipment, tennis and pickleball courts, a wildlife nature trail, new directional and entry signage, upgraded solar lighting, and land acquisition. Existing playground and restroom facilities have also been improved.
The program included remarks by Austin Mayor Roger Hawkins, Clerk-Treasurer Chris Fugate, Richie Buchanan, Austin Redevelopment Commission President; Nathaniel Simmons, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Grants Manager; Josh Haley, Temple & Temple Excavating & Paving CEO and Bob Woosley, Heritage Engineering President
White noted that the Park was founded 51 years ago in 1974. “This day has been a long time in coming,” he said. “And this is not the end,” he said before cutting the ribbon to the expanded community park.