Overview

The Huntingburg Alley Activation Project is located in Huntingburg's historic downtown district, connecting businesses and quaint specialty shops on 4th Street to Memorial Gym on 5th Street. This alley also serves as an access corridor to a number of local retail establishments, restaurants, and the post office. A section of the alley was recently converted to pedestrian-only, which will allow for quality-of-place design features including, planters, lighting, public art, and outdoor tables and chairs that can be utilized by patrons of nearby restaurants. READI funds would go towards bidding and construction costs, public art, and furniture. Enhancing the alley with new pavement and public art will create a warm and inviting environment to provide a safe and lighted walkway to the downtown district. The project is expected to start in November 2022 and last until July 2023. The Huntingburg Alley Activation proposal stems directly from Indiana University's Placemaking Studio: a collaboration between the Center for Rural Engagement (CRE) and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, and Design's ServeDesign Center. For the Huntingburg Alley Activation proposal, Eskenazi School is working in collaboration with the City of Huntingburg's Office of Community Development, Huntingburg's Main Street Program, Destination Huntingburg, and local business and property owners on a series of projects to increase walkability and public space within existing alleyways in the downtown area.