jasper—The Jasper Park Board expressed its support for the new courtyard that Heart of Jasper plans to create at the corner of Fourth and Main (next to Oink, Inc.) in downtown Jasper.However, said maintenance and upkeep would be a top priority for future approvals for the new project.
Ruger Kerstiens, representing Heart of Jasper, presented plans for the project to the board at Tuesday’s meeting. According to the group, the courtyard enhances the downtown area by creating a vibrant public space that connects the revitalized downtown area to the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center and the Riverwalk, and provides much-needed public restrooms.
Kerstiens stressed that the project aligns with the city’s comprehensive Impact Jasper plan, completed in 2019. According to the plan, the top priority in designing Jasper’s downtown and riverfront areas is to create a cultural and entertainment district that connects the two areas.
In a multi-phased approach, the nonprofit group is working to add a trail from the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center to Main Street, with the planned courtyard connecting the trail to the improved section of Main Street.
“This courtyard will serve as a focal point between downtown and the Riverwalk and the cultural center,” Kerstiens said.
Preliminary estimates put the project cost for the courtyard at $1.2 million to $1.8 million, Kerstiens said. It includes public restrooms (and utilities), covered seating areas, an outdoor TV with glare protection, a game area, an outdoor ping pong or foosball table and swings similar to those on the plaza. Rundell Ernstberger Associates, the Indianapolis-based firm that designed the downtown project, created the initial designs and renderings included in this story.
Heart of Jasper plans to raise 100 percent of the funds needed to build the courtyard. During the meeting, Kerstiens confirmed that the organization has already received some preliminary commitments to fund the project. This campaign would be completed after the city grants permits for implementation.
However, the park board expressed concerns about the sustainability of the project and future funding for maintenance and replacement costs, as it would fall under the purview of the Parks and Recreation Authority. While Park Board Chairman Roger Seger expressed support for the project, he suggested that Heart of Jasper establish an endowment fund similar to the one for the Parklands to fund the new courtyard.
Parks Committee member Kristen Ruhe supports the project but raises concerns about practical details regarding the current staffing and responsibilities of the Parks and Recreation Department. She said she wants to know how details like monitoring the grounds on weekends, cleaning up messes and changing the TV channel would be handled. “I love it when we have new ideas… It keeps our city fresh and people stay here,” she said. “We just need to figure out those logistics.”
Parks and Recreation Director Tom Moorman shares Ruhe’s concerns. Initial estimates for annual maintenance, which included materials, maintenance, cleaning and replacing broken equipment such as the television, added about $40,000 to the parks and recreation budget.
In the end, the board gave a positive recommendation for the project, provided that it would receive final approval for the project and that the plans would include a funding mechanism for the ongoing maintenance and operating costs of the courtyard.
Kerstiens said he believes the park administration’s stance will be helpful as Heart of Jasper now goes through the final approval processes with the city council and other agencies involved.
