PHOTOS: City Of Lawrenceburg Receives Downtown Achievement Award Of Excellence

Monday, October 18, 2021 at 5:17 PM

By City of Lawrenceburg, news release

The award recognizes excellence in urban place management for the Lawrenceburg Civic Park.

Photo provided by The City of Lawrenceburg.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The International Downtown Association recognized the City of Lawrenceburg with the Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for its resourceful approaches related to Lawrenceburg Civic Park. A jury of peer professionals reviewed, deliberated, and evaluated all entries in the 2021 Downtown Achievement Awards. The Award of Excellence acknowledges an excellent response to an urban place management challenge, demonstrating application of industry knowledge and exceeds the jury criteria.

Lawrenceburg Civic Park was among 12 qualified entries in the category of Planning, Design and Infrastructure which IDA identifies as one of the seven professional urban place management practice areas. This category features unique organizational approaches and projects in the areas of downtown master planning, streetscape improvements, sustainable infrastructure and wayfinding.

“While Indiana’s major metropolitan cities often take center stage, smaller cities such as the City of Lawrenceburg have a culture, vibrancy and uniqueness all their own. The City of Lawrenceburg is a community dedicated to improving the lives of its residents with a focus on economic development, workforce, education, housing, quality of life initiatives and tourism. The Lawrenceburg Civic Park has been the wheel hub catalyst turning each of these spokes forward in southeast Indiana. The City of Lawrenceburg is honored to be an International Downtown Achievement Award winner,” shared Kelly Mollaun, Mayor of the City of Lawrenceburg.

The development of the Lawrenceburg Civic Park is a response to the City’s 2014 Downtown Action Agenda. The plan recommended the development of a “Riverfront Cultural and Entertainment District” connecting the city’s entertainment offerings and local businesses on High and Walnut Streets into a cohesive walkable district.

Lawrenceburg Civic Park replaces 1.5 acres of formerly underutilized surface parking with an urban park and has already been a catalyst for growth and development within the downtown. Since the park’s opening in June of 2019 thru 2021, attendance at Music on the River has soared, the Lawrenceburg Summer Event Series including the Whiskey City Challenge, Whiskey City Summer Fest and the popular Lawrenceburg Fall Music Fest thrive at the Civic Park as well. The Civic Park is regularly programmed with community activities including a farmer’s market, mobile library, Shakespeare performances, movies, and fitness classes. In 2020, over 88 of 100 community events and programs were able to continue with combined support from the City of Lawrenceburg and Lawrenceburg Main Street with the majority of events taking place in Lawrenceburg Civic Park.

Within the “entertainment district” surrounding the park, several new businesses have opened including Proof 124 Table & Tavern Restaurant, Funny Farm Coffee Company, and Parkside Market & Bakery. The 150-unit Whiskey River apartment development will open in summer 2022. Lawrenceburg Civic Park has and continues to successfully draw the community of Lawrenceburg toward the Ohio River and celebrates the City’s rich “river town” history.

“The City of Lawrenceburg has demonstrated skillful application of urban place management principles with their Lawrenceburg Civic Park project,” said David Downey, IDA President and CEO. “The Lawrenceburg Civic Park should serve as a framework to all member communities within IDA.”

Washington, DC-based IDA is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts.

A thriving local economy is key to the strength of a sustainable business environment. Business retention and attraction principles are needed to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. The City of Lawrenceburg, Lawrenceburg Redevelopment Commission (LRC) and Lawrenceburg Main Street (LMS) continue to coordinate and invest in supportable economic development opportunities and quality of life environments. Many exciting economic initiatives are unfolding with the City of Lawrenceburg laser focused as a “City on the Rise.”