The preliminary work involved with improving New Castle’s sports facilities continues as does discussion regarding the creation of a downtown area to be known as “1400 Plaza.”
Mayor Greg York told members of the New Castle Redevelopment Commission Wednesday morning that early implementation of his sports plan is going well.
The mayor wants the community to add several sports facilities around town to support more events and improve the parks. While most of his proposal is focused on Northfield Park around the YMCA, the mayor wants to see the New Castle Community School Corporation invested in the project and has asked them to consider expanding the Fieldhouse more than 100 feet into the current high school parking lot. The mayor previously said implementation of the sports plan will proceed even if the school corporation does not expand the Fieldhouse.
The plan also includes three soccer fields and a restroom built north of the YMCA. Two baseball diamonds and three Little League diamonds would also be built, along with two youth football fields. The plan calls for an indoor tennis court to be added to the existing YMCA building, as well.
“It’s moving at a great speed and there’s a lot of enthusiasm and excitement about it,” York said about the plan.
New Castle City Council member Mark Koger, who serves as president of the city’s legislative body, said he supports the mayor’s plan for improving the city’s athletic facilities, but noted that he doesn’t envision any money from the General Fund being used to move the effort forward.
“I’m with Greg on this. One way to draw people into our community is good youth sports facilities whether that be baseball or more basketball facilities or softball diamonds for the girls. I am definitely on board, it’s just a matter of the mayor finding the funding for it,” Koger said.
The mayor also pointed out that renovation of the upper floors of the L.A. Jennings Building at the intersection of Broad and 14th streets is nearing completion and said there is a need for moving forward with creation of what will be known as the 1400 Plaza on the southeast corner of that intersection.
The mayor has appointed a committee comprised of business and property owners to help determine details of the planned plaza. The committee’s responsibilities include reviewing the design of a parking lot, curbs and how 14th Street will be affected. One option being considered is to permanently close the 100 block of S. 14th; another is to have that section of street curve to the east.
York envisions an area that includes parking for Jennings Building tenants as well as a fountain, a waiting area for people visiting the businesses planned for the lower levels of the Jennings Building, and other features including the availability of water. He said the plaza could serve as a new home to the Farmers Market in the summer months and numerous other functions.
“We need to move as quick as we can to stay ahead of ... people moving into those apartments, so we’ll definitely need a meeting about this next month. Keep it on the front burner because we’re definitely going to have to discuss that in the near future,” the mayor said.
Ultimately, a final decision regarding the creation of the plaza and its design will be the city council’s to make.
The RDC also elected officers for the coming year. They are William Aitchison, president; Larry Abrams, vice president; James Millikan, secretary and Christy York, treasurer.
The New Castle RDC will next meet at 8 a.m. Feb. 24 in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 227 N. Main St. The meeting is open to the public.
