STATE OF THE CITY 2015

STATE OF THE CITY


As we begin the 2015 year, I remain incredibly proud of our community.  I am proud of the fact that collectively our city departments were again able to stay well within their budgets. (This is the direct result of the planning and fiscal management of each of our Department Heads and the dedication of our employees to efficiently provide the services and protection our residents have come to expect. They are amazing.) I am proud of the vibrancy of our local economy and the successful businesses and industries that are located here, and the increasing number of job opportunities that follow. I am proud of the results we are seeing from the Stellar Grant investment that the State of Indiana has made in us, and I am very proud of the citizens of Greencastle who invest their time and talents to make our community something truly special.


During 2014 we:

  • Rebuilt a section of Indiana Street that now provides relief from flooding rains and a well-lit and pleasant pedestrian way.
  • Joined the Civic League in the design and building of the Bob York Memorial Splash Park.
  • Completed the first round of façade revitalization in the downtown.
  • Built and nearly completed two new parking lots to provide relief for our downtown parking congestion.
  • Took over the ownership of Big Walnut Sports Park.
  • We did over $250,000 in street improvements.
  • We invested over $100,000 in our sidewalks and ADA ramps.
  • Completed six Owner Occupied rehabilitation projects
  • Received the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Green Community of the Year designation for the 6thtime.
  • Invested $18,000 in our city’s tree canopy.
  • Watched a reconstituted Main Street organization emerge and begin an energetic “First Friday” program.
  • Have watched the exciting development of our first young person’s Maker group.
  • Have witnessed the growing interest, investment and enjoyment of the arts that have come through the work of DePauw’s School of Music, committed citizens and our schools.
  • Saw the opening of the Zinc Mill Apartments and Milestone Phase 2 units on Martinsville Street.
  • Broke ground at the Miller School site for new senior housing.


As we look ahead to the next twelve months we will turn out attention to:

  • The reconstruction of a section of Vine Street.
  • An aggressive season of street resurfacing and sidewalk work.
  • The building of The Micaela Cancilla Park (Maple Berry Park east)
  • Phase 2 of downtown façade reconstruction.
  • Building 11 new downtown loft apartments.
  • Finishing our last 7 Owner Occupied Rehabilitation projects.
  • Remediation of structural issues in the Greencastle Fire Department building.
  • Rebuilding the tennis courts at Robe Ann Park.
  • Refurbishment of Manhattan Road and Indianapolis Road (Kroger-Percy Julian).
  • Our Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s mandated water construction project.
  • Letting of our South Street project for construction.
  • Final submission of plans for the Phase IV People’s Pathway project that will link our high school and middle school to the stoplight just west of Walmart and the rest of our trail system.
  • Continuing to provide the services our citizens have come to expect, while working to insure the city’s financial integrity for the future.


Our days will be busy and the year will move quickly, but because of all of the construction that will be taking place in our downtown, I must ask again for the continued patience of our citizens and visitors alike. It is our goal to try to minimize the inconveniences and move through the construction season as quickly as possible. I think we all will be pleased.


I am sincerely grateful to the people of Greencastle who have given me the opportunity to serve as your Mayor. It is a privilege.



Sue Murray

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