(Batesville, IN) – Batesville Main Street and the City of Batesville hosted a public hearing Monday night in council chambers at the Memorial Building to discuss the upcoming Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) grant application for downtown development.
The city and Main Street have requested $500,000 in OCRA funds as part of a revitalization program, specifically revamping a portion of the parking lot between George and Pearl streets near Inspiration Park.
Carrie Riley, a grants manager with Administrative Resources Association (ARa), led the discussion and took questions and comments from residents and downtown stakeholders, who filled most of the seats in the room. She says the grant application process is quite competitive.
“A lot of concerns that we’ve had were that this parking lot is such a large area and people are walking through the parking lot to get to the other side of downtown, instead of walking along the sidewalks to get around, so we’re taking a portion of this parking lot and making it into greenspace,” Riley said.
In addition, Riley says they’re also looking at adding ADA-compliant ramps, fixing curbs and sidewalks, and installing bump outs.
Riley says the initial proposal is due this Friday, with an application deadline on June 5.
She adds, if anyone has questions or comments about the grant application, contact Amy Lunsford at Batesville Main Street.
“We’ve been working directly with her, so she’ll be able to answer any questions and take comments, show you designs, show how you got there,” Riley said. “We’re definitely looking for any comments in support of, or any concerns that need to be addressed if this gets funded.”
Riley will also take comments: carrie@aracities.org.
ARa works with cities, counties and towns on grant funding and helps them find federal dollars for various projects.
The organization has developed and administered numerous federal, state, and private community development projects since its founding in 1973.
HWC Engineering of Indianapolis came up with design concepts for the downtown park project, including drawings of what is called the preferred option (pictured).
Riley says another public hearing on this will happen sometime in May before the full grant application is turned in.
This is the city’s second attempt at this grant; OCRA funded other projects in the last cycle.
