ARTISTREE DISTRICT MASTER PLAN
GREENSBURG, IN HOME TO THE ARTisTREE DISTRICT
228 ACRES FILLED WITH ARTS AND CULTURAL ASSETS
THIS PLAN SETS FORTH
A VISION FOR THE DISTRICT
AND TOP PRIORITIES NECESSARY TO MAKE THE VISION A REALITY
DECEMBER 2019
The Team: Many individuals helped to make the ARTisTREE Master Plan possible. ARTisTREE District Master Plan Task Force Members: Mayor Dan Manus Mayor, City of Greensburg David Fry Board President, Arts & Cultural Council of Decatur County Vanessa Martin Director, Greensburg Public Library Annie Nunley Director, Main Street Greensburg Amy Borns Economic Development Corporation Wendy Blake Tree County Players Philip Deiwert Director, Decatur County Visitors & Recreation Tami Wenning Director, Decatur County Community Foundation Alex Sefton Intern, Decatur County Community Foundation Dustin Smith Art Teacher, Greensburg Community High School
Arts and Cultural Council Board of Directors: David J. Fry, President Lori Durbin, VP Amy Borns - EDC, Secretary Wendy Blake, Treasurer Philip Deiwert - Tourism Judy Glore - Art Gallery Cathy Lincourt - Tree County Players Mandy Lohrum Susan Burkhart - Main Street Greensburg Alex Sefton Dustin Smith - GCHS Amy Shearer Donna Swinford - Museum
Consultant: Rachel Kavathe Loci Creative, LLC www.locicreativellc.com
ARTisTREE Master Plan
Contents WHAT IS THE ARTisTREE DISTRICT?
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And what makes it important for Greensburg?
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT
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A lot of dedicated community members and organizations have helped to create the District.
A SUMMARY OF EXISTING ASSETS
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What do Arts and Culture mean to Greensburg?
OUR VISION
What we plan for the District to look like in ten years
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GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
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Benchmarks to meet our vision
PALETTE OF IDEAS
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A summary of what we envision for additional assets
DISTRICT ZONES AND CONNECTIVITY ANALYSIS
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The District is made up of several zones, each with a unique flavor.
ACTION ITEMS
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Steps to achieving the vision
APPENDIX A: PLANNING DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
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Eleven City and County Documents were reviewed and referenced in this plan.
APPENDIX B: CONNECTIVITY ANALYSIS
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The 228 acre district was analysed for connectivity, accessibility, and priority routes.
APPENDIX C: PLANNING PROCESS DOCUMENTATION
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This plan was developed over several months with input from hundreds of community members. This section chronicles that process.
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A Message from the Arts Council As cities and counties continue to look for opportunities to create unique destinations and experiences for their residents and visitors, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the arts play an important role in creating memorable communities and a strong sense of place. A recent study conducted by Americans for the Arts found that seventy percent of Americans believe that the arts improve their community image. Furthermore, the study found that half of people with college degrees (49 percent) and a majority of Millennials (52 percent) and Generation Xers (54 percent) say they would strongly consider whether a community is rich in the arts when deciding where to locate for a job. As Greensburg’s economy continues to grow, and businesses continue to seek top talent, the importance of incorporating the arts into our daily lives should not be overlooked. The ARTisTREE District is an important part of the City and County’s overall economic development strategy. In addition, the District offers opportunities for our residents and visitors to experience the unique amenities that we have to offer. The ARTisTREE District Master Plan sets forth a clear vision of what we intend the District to be in no more than ten years time, with a clear action-oriented strategy on how we plan to achieve that vision. This document was created by a team of individuals, representing many community organizations. In addition, hundreds of community members weighed in with valuable input that was incorporated into the plan. The ARTisTREE District is and will continue to be a collaborative effort. The plan is a living document meant to facilitate this ongoing community collaborative effort among the many government entities, organizations, and individuals all working to achieve the vision for a world class destination for the arts.
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INTRODUCTION
What is the ARTisTREE District? The ARTisTREE District is in the heart of Greensburg, including the historic courthouse square, many restaurants and unique local businesses, public artwork, galleries, museums, playhouse, education opportunities, and many more arts and cultural offerings.
In August of 2018, the Greensburg City Council officially designated the ARTisTREE District. The ARTisTREE District encompasses a burgeoning area of the Greensburg community, spanning from Tree County Playhouse on the western edge of the District, to the Greensburg Public Library, Rebekah Park and the Greensburg Community High School on the eastern end of the District. A map outlining the entire district can be found on the following page. Cultural districts such as the ARTisTREE District are noted for bringing together a diverse collection of arts-related assets and programming. The District currently features 35 cultural assets, more than 60 annual programs and 115 economic assets, and is continuing to grow. The ARTisTREE District includes portions of the Indiana Main Street District and the National Historic District. These overlapping areas provide greater opportunity for collaboration and synergies with allied organizations.
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A Brief History of the ARTisTREE District... Encompassing 40 blocks in the heart of Greensburg and Decatur County, the ARTisTREE District has a lot of history to share!
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The Greensburg Downtown Historic District is a National historic district. The downtown architecture offers an attraction all its own and was listed on the Register in 1995. It encompasses 66 contributing buildings and 3 contributing objects in the central business district. The district originally developed between 1854 and 1945, and includes notable examples of Italianate, Queen Anne, and Classical Revival style architecture among others. Also located in the district are the separately listed Decatur County Courthouse and Knights of Pythias Building. The Courthouse was constructed in 1860. By virtue of the tree growing from the top of its tower, Greensburg is known across the Nation as the “Tree City� and the oddity of nature has
fed a unique culture of its own. A tree was first spotted growing from the Courthouse tower as early as the 1870s. The tree has come to represent the idea that the Greensburg community embraces the unconventional, and celebrates all that makes the city unique. Historic structures in the District have continued to see investment as new businesses continue to locate in the downtown. The designation of the ARTisTREE District in 2018 expanded upon the historic district to include additional community cultural assets such as Rebekah Park and Tree County Players. The District will continue to build upon the rich history of Greensburg as the community looks to the future.
The ARTisTREE District encompasses Greensburg and Decatur County’s historic Courthouse Square, and radiates to Rebekah Park and the high school to the east, and Tree County Players to the West.
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How Do We Define Arts and Culture in Greensburg?
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The words art and culture can mean different things to different people. The following pages outline the types of art and cultural experiences we believe are best suited for Greensburg and will continue to make the ARTisTREE District grow and thrive.
In Greensburg and Decatur County, our community history and cultural heritage have given us a strong foundation to build upon. Arts and cultural assets are already plentiful in our ARTisTREE District because of our strong spirit of community and love of the arts. In addition to our historic structures and architectural gems, the ARTisTREE District also is already home to many art forms. Five murals are located throughout the district, as well as mosaics, sculptures, and historical markers. All of these various art forms add to what makes the District unique. We define art in a broad sense, including two dimensional works, three dimensional works, as well as temporary artwork. Performance art, theatre, and music are also a critical component of what makes the District special. Finally, festivals, events and a wealth of programming in the District attract our community members as well as visitors throughout the year. All of these activities are considered arts and cultural assets. This plan is a framework for building upon our history, our strong community partnerships, and our desire as a community to create an Arts and Cultural District in Greensburg that is visionary and inclusive of all our City and County citizens as well as visitors to our community. This plan sets forth a framework to build upon our existing arts and cultural assets. Looking ahead to the future of the District, this plan sets forth actionable steps to accomplish our goals over a ten year period. This is a living document that can be adapted as priorities may shift or goals may be expanded.
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DISTRICT ASSETS
Visual Art
Visual art is a growing asset to the District, which can take on the form of murals, sculptures, installation art, and also functional art. Publicly accessible art in the District takes on many forms. One of the most prominent art forms currently in the District is visual art. Visual art in the District currently includes many murals and sculptures. The recent additions of sculptures and murals in the District have been well received by the community. As we continue to expand upon the visual art in the District, it is important to consider all the forms that visual art can take. In addition to paintings and sculptures, visual art can also include other art forms, such as photography, textile arts and digital art forms. Visual art in the district does not always have to come in the form of a permanent sculpture or mural. The artwork could be temporary in nature, such as removable vinyl or canvas murals that could be changed out after a few months or years, or temporary sculptures which could be installed for a few months or a few years. Visual art can also include art forms that are incorporated into functional objects, such as benches, trash receptacles, light posts, or other objects in the District. Visual Art in the District should have the following qualities: • • •
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Family friendly Celebrate the unique character of the ARTisTREE District Be accessible for all to enjoy
“Barklee” sculpture made from the wood of a fallen ash tree is located at the Rebekah Park Dog Park
“Keep on Truckin’” Mural by just south of the Square
“Feathers for the Fellows” mural by Dustin Smith located at the Rebekah Park ARTisTREE Master Plan
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Performance Art
Tree County Playhouse, Greensburg High School, and the new amphitheater all provide great venues for a variety of performances in the District. Performance art can take on many forms, from theatrical plays, to music concerts, or musicals. The District is fortunate to have the Tree County Players’ Playhouse at the western end of the District, and the Greensburg High School at the Eastern end. Plans for the District are to continue to grow opportunities for performance art and to expand the potential venues for performances throughout the District. Survey results show that the community is supportive of increasing the amount of performance offerings in the District, particularly music events. Performance Art in the District Should Have the following qualities: • • •
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Attract local and regional audiences Integrate with other festivals and events when possible Be accessible for all to enjoy
Performances by Tree County Players (bottom), Tree City Fall Festival (upper left) and the Decatur County marching band which practiced and performed in the ARTisTREE District.. ARTisTREE Master Plan
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DISTRICT ASSETS
Historical and Cultural Experiences
Greensburg and Decatur County are fortunate to have a beautiful historic downtown that provides a strong foundation for experiencing the arts and cultural events in the ARTisTREE District. Celebrating the history of our community is an important component of what makes the ARTisTREE District so special. There are currently many assets throughout the District that provide information about the rich history of Greensburg. These assets include monuments, historical markers, and sculptures, along with the beautifully maintained historic architecture. In addition to celebrating our history, the cultural district also looks to the future. Many cultural experiences continue to grow and adapt to the needs of our current population. For example, the farmers’ market has continued to grow and has become an important part of the ARTisTREE District. Historical and Cultural Experiences should have the following qualities: • • •
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Provide offerings for all generations to enjoy Foster opportunities for community gathering Educate on the history of the area in a way that can appeal to a diverse audience
The historic courthouse square provides a wealth of cultural history (upper left). The farmers’ market at the courthouse square is a popular summer event (upper left). Kids celebrate the Fourth of July (bottom).
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DISTRICT ASSETS
Unique Restaurants and Shops
The diverse collection of privately-owned businesses within the District create an important asset. There are many unique local shops and restaurants that collectively contribute to the overall sense of place in the ARTisTREE District, providing entertainment, unique cultural experiences, and gathering spaces. Survey results show that our community highly values the shops and restaurants that are in the District, and would support the attraction of additional businesses. Not only are the services they provide important, but also the gathering spaces they provide for the community to come together. Shops and Restaurants in the District Should: • • •
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Appeal to a diverse audience Be accessible to all Provide unique experiences for community members and visitors to experience the District
Tree City Stitches, Mayasari Indonesian Grill and Denim and Honey are just a few of the may shops and restaurants that make the ARTisTREE District unique. ARTisTREE Master Plan
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Gathering Places
Publicly accessible gathering spaces are what allow community members to connect and share experiences. The ARTisTREE District is fortunate to have a beautiful courthouse square, large parks, and attractive streetscapes. Continuing to invest in these publicly accessible spaces will not only make access to arts and cultural activities easier and more enjoyable, but will create gathering spaces for daily use. Additional investment in underutilized spaces, such as alleys and vacant store fronts, can turn these spaces into additional opportunities for community gathering. Even temporary use of the spaces, such as pop-up events or temporary installation art, can foster an important sense of place. Gathering Places Should: • • •
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Be accessible for all to enjoy Collectively appeal to a range of ages Offer opportunities for citizens to connect
The Market to Meal event (upper left) courthouse square plein air painting event activated downtown public spaces. The new splash pad at Rebekah Park has become a fun gathering place for young community members.
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Existing Assets Performance Art and Venues for Festivals, Events and Gatherings
Historic and Cultural Experiences Courthouse Historic Marker War Memorial Downtown Blue Star Historic Marker Tree Growing from Courthouse Indiana Freedom Trails - Donnell vs. State
Tree County Playhouse
Carl Fishers Historic Marker
Greensburg H.S. Auditorium
Reina Merceded Historic Anchor
Pirate Park
Colonel Wilder Historic Marker
Rebekah Park
Historical Society of Decatur County
Public Library
Little Hoosiers Historic Building Tour
Rotary Plaza
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MAIN STREET
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Visual Art
Unique Local Shops and Restaurants
“Love Grows Here” mural
Mayasari Indonesian Grill
“Keep on Truckin’” mural
Tarouya Sushi & Hibachi
“Greensburg Community” mural
Come Paint With Me
“#WhatLiftsYou” mural
Art on the Square
“Feathers for the Fellows” mural
Tree City Stitches
Rotary Plaza sculpture (pending)
Melody Mart
Mosaic Waste Receptacles Artistic Benches on Main Street Splash Pad artwork Bison-Tennial Statue Greensburg Library Art Installation Bark Park Dog
The ARTisTREE District encompasses 40 blocks, and over 220 acres in the heart of Greensburg.
IOOF Remembrance Fountain (pending)
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The Vision
The ARTisTREE District will welcome and inspire members of our community and visitors alike to take part in a wealth of art and cultural experiences that are family friendly, inclusive, and accessible to all.
The District will be an economic driver for Greensburg, will encourage tourism, and will support a diverse group of artists, through a variety of arts and cultural experiences.
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The Goals
The four goals for the ARTisTREE District were created by the Task Force to clarify the specific outcomes needed in order to meet the vision. The ARTisTREE District will be... 1. Accessible, well-connected, and easily identifiable, 2. A family friendly destination, inclusive of all, 3. Inclusive of many different types of art with a diversity of offerings, 4. An economic driver, attracting tourists, businesses, and new development.
Arts Council member Lori Durbin attended the Farmers’ Market to discuss with community members what they would like to see in the District. ARTisTREE Master Plan
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The Objectives
The Task Force broke down each of the four goals into measurable objectives in order to better direct the creation of action steps and priorities for future policies and investment decisions. Goal 1: The ARTisTREE District will be accessible, wellconnected and easily identifiable. Objective 1: Ensure that all District marketing material and signage clearly communicates the location of the District, location of District amenities, and meets accessibility standards. Objective 2: Add or upgrade existing pedestrian and bicycle trail connections to the District from surrounding neighborhoods, and within the District to better connect assets to the community. Objective 3: Install pedestrian wayfinding signage within the District that directs people to attractions. Objective 4: Create an online resource that allows for virtual accessibility to the District amenities
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Goal 2: The ARTisTREE District will be a family friendly destination, inclusive of all. Objective 1: Create art and events within the District that can be experienced in a variety of ways so that they are inclusive of different ages and abilities. Objective 2: Ensure art and events within the District will serve traditionally under-served populations. Objective 3: Create art and events that have opportunities for children, teens and young adults to participate. Objective 4: Create arts and cultural events for adults and senior citizens Goal 3: The ARTisTREE District will be inclusive of many different types of art with a diversity of offerings. Objective 1: Create opportunities to expand the variety of types of art in the District. Objective 2: Create a variety of event types with diverse offerings to engage visitors and attendees in the use of the ARTisTREE District and attract those who don’t traditionally engage with the arts. Goal 4: The ARTisTREE District will be an economic driver, attracting tourists, businesses, and new development. Objective 1: Develop incentives to attract creative entrepreneurs to the District Objective 2: Develop incentives for businesses to support the arts. Objective 3: Develop opportunities for artists to locate in the District and streamline processes for artist involvement. Objective 4: Develop procedures that will ensure the longevity of assets within the District.
Mosaics adorn the trash receptacles throughout the Courthouse square.
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PALETTE OF IDEAS
We envision an ARTisTREE District that is home to a continually evolving collection of art experiences. While artwork can take the form of murals or permanent sculpture, it is important to consider other types of visual art that could be added to the collection, such as temporary art forms, interactive art, functional art, digital art, photography, performance art, and more. Below are some examples of these various types of visual art that could be incorporated into the ARTisTREE District in the future.
Trees along a downtown street are temporarily wrapped with colorful hand-knit artwork. 26 ARTisTREE
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Children and adults love the interactive installation at London’s King’s Cross station called Song Board.
PALETTE OF IDEAS (Below) Temporary installations, such as those featured in Exhibit Columbus, in Columbus, Indiana, can be up for a period of just a few months. Temporary work can help keep the District fresh with new experiences. (Right) Simple and inexpensive artwork, such as chalk paintings can be a fun and temporary way to add artwork to the District.
The “Before I die...� interactive art installation invited participants to write in chalk. This global project was begun by artist Candy Chang. ARTisTREE Master Plan
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PALETTE OF IDEAS
Using light as a medium is a growing genre of visual art. Light projection mapping can temporarily transform a building facade or other surface into a work of art, such as the artwork of Fiona Ackerman which was projected onto the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Temporary art can spur community dialogue, such as this installation titled “Ice Watch� by Olafur Eliasson.. Ice was collected from glacier in Greenland and placed on display in a public plaza in London where they began to melt away. The piece created a community discussion on global warming.
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PALETTE OF IDEAS
Sculptural bike racks in Louisville are a great example of public artwork that can also be functional.
Sculptural benches by Jeppe Hein are sculptures that also function as seating at the Indianapolis Museum of Art 100 Acres.
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District Zones Different areas of the District have their own unique character. This plan sets forth guidelines to enhance each of the four zones within the District.
Zone 1 Zone 1 in the District includes the active courthouse square and surrounding central business district. This area has significant cultural importance, with historic architecture, many unique restaurants and businesses, and existing arts and cultural opportunities. Zone 2 Zone 2 in the District consists of residential areas adjacent to Zone 1. These areas are an important transition zone between the business district and residential neighborhoods. This area would be ideal for artists or other creative entrepreneurs to live and also have studio space.
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Zone 3 Zone 3 in the District is an important connector area between the active Courthouse area to the west and the recreation and educational amenities to the eastern edge of the District, including Rebekah Park, the Decatur County Library, and Greensburg Community High School. Zone 4 Zone 4 in the District is made up of the area including Rebekah Park, the library, the high school, and the new community open space, Pirate Park. This area is wellsuited for larger recreation events, festivals, and family activities. It is also the ideal location to experience art in a natural setting.
District Boundary Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4
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District Zones Analysis
In reviewing the zones and their existing assets, it is clear that the largest concentration of assets is currently within or nearby the Courthouse Square. There is also a significant amount of new assets on the eastern edge of the District, with the new splash pad, mural, sculpture and amphitheater at Rebekah Park, and the development of Pirate Park. While these two zones should continue to be developed, the other zones will also need investment in order to provide a cohesive experience within the District. In Zone 1, there are a significant amount of assets located within the courthouse square. While this area should continue to be an important focus for continued arts and cultural investments, additional assets should also expand throughout Main Street, providing more connectivity from the Courthouse square to surrounding areas. Zone 1 currently has the best mix of any zone of all types of assets. Zone 1 also includes areas designated on the Greensburg Future Land Use Map as Transitional Commercial, which could work well for a makers space or artist cooperative space. Zone 2 represents the areas within the District that are best suited for artist or creative entrepreneur live/work spaces. This zone matches the areas in the District that are also designated as residential in the Greensburg Future Land Use Map. Currently this zone is lacking in arts and cultural assets. Incentives should be developed to help attract more investment in these areas.
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Zone 3 provides an important connector between the activities within the courthouse square region and the activities and amenities at the institutions and parks to the east in zone 4. Investment in arts and cultural assets in zone 3 will help to provide a “cultural corridor� along Main Street. The distance from the Courthouse square to Rebekah Park is less than a mile, and could provide a walking route in order to see multiple arts and cultural activities along the way. Better sidewalk and path connections, with amenities along the way would enhance the connection. Zone 4 has many important amenities and has become a valued destination for community members. As improvements such as Rebekah Park and Pirate Park are completed, it is important that the programming of these spaces works to provide a diversity of offerings for the community and visitors.
Historic and Cultural Experiences Performance Art and Venues for Festivals, Events and Gatherings
District Boundary Zone 1 Zone 2
Unique Local Shops and Restaurants
Zone 3
Visual Art
Zone 4
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District Connectivity Analysis Connectivity to and throughout the District is a critical element to its success. Connecting people via sidewalks, trails, and bike paths from their homes or places of work to the District is an important part of creating a vibrant area. Recommendations to improve connectivity to and within the District: 1. Complete Cultural Corridor Connection Create a complete trail connection along Main Street, along the “Cultural Corridor� that runs from the western end of the District to Rebekah Park on the eastern end. Prioritization of a safe and comfortable walking and biking route along the entirety of this corridor will become the spine of the District, connecting all assets throughout the District. The total distance from the Tree County Playhouse to Rebekah Park is only 1.5 miles, which can be easily biked or walked.
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2. Universal Design and Accessibility With each new project or renovation of existing connections within the District, every effort needs to be made to ensure ADA standards for accessibility are met or exceeded. Standards of Universal Design should be considered to ensure that all members of the community can access and participate in the arts and cultural offerings in the District. Careful attention to slopes of sidewalks, ramp placements, seating, and signage all must be considered for accessibility. 3. Improve Connections to adjacent neighborhoods Providing bicycle and pedestrian connections to the District from surrounding neighborhoods will help alleviate the need for additional parking in the District, as well as improve the overall quality of place in the District. While sidewalk connections to neighborhoods to the north and south of the District do currently exist, these connections should be continuously maintained improved as funds become available. District Boundary
Cultural Corridor
Priority Connections
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ACTION ITEMS Goal 1: An accessible, well-connected, and easily identifiable District.
OBJECTIVE
ACTION ITEM
TIME
Supporting Documents: Greensburg Comprehensive Plan (see pages 13, 14) Greensburg 2017 Stellar Communities Strategic Investment Plan (see page 13) Decatur County Memorial Hospital Community Needs Health Assessment (see page 11) Decatur County Comprehensive Plan (see page 37) 36
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Goal 2: A family-friendly destination, inclusive of all.
OBJECTIVE
ACTION ITEM
TIME
LEAD
Supporting Documents: Greensburg 2017 Stellar Communities Strategic Investment Plan (see page 13) Decatur County Memorial Hospital Community Needs Health Assessment (see page 11) Decatur County Comprehensive Plan (see page 56) Greensburg Action Plan 2017 (see page 20, 31) 2016 Community Survey
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ACTION ITEMS Goal 3: Inclusive of many different types of art with a diversity of offerings. OBJECTIVE
ACTION ITEM
Supporting Documents: Greensburg Comprehensive Plan (see page 14) Greensburg 2017 Stellar Communities Strategic Investment Plan (see page 13) Greensburg Action Plan 2017 (see page 31)
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TIME
LEAD
Goal 4: An economic driver, attracting tourists, businesses, and new development. OBJECTIVE
ACTION ITEM
TIME
LEAD
Supporting Documents: Greensburg Comprehensive Plan (see page 12, 13) Greensburg 2017 Stellar Communities Strategic Investment Plan (see page 13) Decatur County Comprehensive Plan (see pages 20, 21, 52, 57)
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APPENDIX A
Planning Document Analysis
Eleven previously completed planning documents were reviewed during the ARTisTREE master planning process in order to fully integrate the ARTisTREE Master Plan with previous planning goals and initiatives. Documents Reviewed Included: 1. Downtown Revitalization Plan, 2008 2. Greensburg Comprehensive Plan, 2015 3. Greensburg Community Vision Plan, 2016 4. Decatur County Memorial Hospital CHNA, 2016 5. Community Survey, 2016 6. Decatur County Comprehensive Plan Update, 2017 7. Greensburg Action Plan My Community My Vision, 2017 8. Stellar Communities Strategic Investment Plan, 2017 9. Plan for Strategic Direction, 2018 10. Cultural District Designation Application, 2019 11. IAC Cultural District Designation Panelist Comments, 2019 Policies and proposals from the documents listed above that also support the goals, objectives and action items in the ARTisTREE District Master Plan were incorporated into the Action Item Matrix. By connecting the documents, it is clear that the recommendations set forth in this plan are consistent with the policies and proposals of previous City and County-wide planning initiatives.
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APPENDIX B
Connectivity Analysis
Connectivity is a critical element to the success of the ARTisTREE District. Connecting people from their homes or places of work to the District, connecting people to the various assets and amenities in the District. Finally, connecting people through gathering spaces, interactive art, festivals, and performances. Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity As a part of the planning process for the ARTisTREE District Master Plan, pedestrian connectivity to the District from surrounding areas as well as within the District itself was analyzed. Supporting efforts to improve pedestrian and other active transportation modes in the District are supported by the Greensburg Comprehensive Plan, The Decatur County Comprehensive Plan. These supporting documents are linked to the Plan’s Action Items. ADA Accessibility Any sidewalk connections, trail improvements, or parking improvements need to meet or exceed standards for accessibility. Further resources for creating more accessible connections to area amenities and specifically to public art were reviewed as a part of this planning process. These resources were further integrated into the Action Items and will be resources for the Arts Council and other entities to reference during the implementation process. Perception of Connectivity The perception of walkability, bikability, and parking availability were all voiced as concerns during the planning process. These are important factors to consider when planning for improved connectivity to and around the District. Issues of perceived lack of parking as well as perceived distances to various amenities are addressed in Goal 1.
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APPENDIX C
Documentation of the Planning Process
The process of creating this master plan document involved many people. This section documents the public engagement that led to the formation of the plan’s recommendations. Task Force Meetings
Survey
A Task Force was created to provide input throughout the planning process. Task Force members represented a wide range of entities and organizations in Greensburg and Decatur County. The organizations that task force members represented included City of Greensburg, Arts and Cultural Council of Decatur County, Greensburg Public Library, Main Street Greensburg, Greensburg Economic Development Corporation, Tree County Players, Decatur County Visitors and Recreation Commission, Decatur County Community Foundation, and Greensburg Community Schools.
I survey was conducted in order to provide more community members with the opportunity to give input into the planning process. Over 250 surveys were completed during October 2019. Results of the survey helped guide the plan’s action items and priorities. Survey comments can be found on the following pages.
Task Force members met for three meetings with Rachel Kavathe of Loci Creative over the course of summer and fall of 2019 to discuss the vision and goals for the master plan. The members also discussed what they thought were the key priorities for the ARTisTREE District moving forward.
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Student Involvement Many students at Greensburg Community High School were asked to also participate in the survey so that their voices could be heard in the planning process. In addition, Loci Creative worked with a group of elementary school students to share their vision for the ARTisTREE District. The student Robotics Team, hosted by Rick Kramer (owner of Kramer’s Creations, located in the ARTisTREE District) were tasked with identifying a problem that they saw in
A temporary display at the library collected input from the public about what they would like to see more of in the District. Responses came from children, teens, and adults. the ARTisTREE District and designing a solution. Students chose to look at pedestrian connectivity in the district and building reuse. They presented their work in November 2019. Their findings are included on the following pages.
“We should have art classes and activities for kids and adults.”
Library Installation As another means to seek public input on the ARTisTREE Master Plan, a temporary display was installed at the GreensburgDecatur County Public Library. At the entrance of the library, patrons were asked to write down what they would like to see more of in the ARTisTREE District, and hang their comments on a display. Over fifty comments were added to the display while it was up in October of 2019. Many children also participated and commented on the importance of art in the community. Comments gathered from the display are included on the following pages.
“More culture. Other countries and ethnicities should be celebrated.”
“Arts walk with map of art works.”
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APPENDIX C
Survey Results A total of 263 people responded to an online survey, answering questions about what they would like to see in the ARTisTREE District. A summary of the results is included below. Question 1: What kind of spaces would Question 4: What new businesses, you like to see more of in the ARTisTREE entertainment, or retail uses would make you excited about spending time District? in the District? The most commonly selected response was “restaurants and cafes.” This was The most frequently requested types of followed by “more sidewalks and paths retail uses requested in the District were for walking and biking”, and “outdoor more shops and restaurants, with many gathering places like pocket parks and people asking for local or unique shops. Coffee shops and opportunities to plazas.” hear live music were also commonly Question 2: What types of art would you mentioned. most like to see more of in the ARTisTREE When asked in Question 5 what types of District? activities would make the district more The most popular response to this appealing to teens and young adults, question was music, closely followed by the most frequently used words were 3D (sculpture) and 2D (murals). gathering places, hangouts, cafés. Question 3: What do you think is most Similar responses to Question 6 which needed in the ARTisTREE District? asked what improvements could make the district more attractive for adults. The top response to this question was More restaurants, art, coffee shop, “more events and activities.” Second cafe, and brewery were all frequent highest selection was “more restaurants responses. and cafés.” The third highest selection was “improvements to pedestrian and When asked what improvements would bicycle accessibility.” The response “more make living or getting to downtown public art” came in fourth. and around the district easier, the most common responses included the need The next four questions were open- for more sidewalks, walking paths or ended. Questions and responses can trails. be found on the following pages. Key findings include:
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ARTisTREE Master Plan
What kind of spaces would you like to see more of in the ARTisTREE District? shops restaurants and cafes parking outdoor gathering spaces mo re sidewalks and paths mo re art exhibits / gallery spaces housing 0
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What types of art would you most like to see more of in the ARTisTREE District? interactive performance art sculpture mu sic mu ra ls 0
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What do you think is most needed in the ARTisTREE District? skating rink shops restaurants and cafes mo re public art parking mo re outdoor spaces mo re indoor spaces mo re events and activties bike ped improvements housing options 0
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APPENDIX C
Robotics Club Students from the Greensburg Robotics Club decided to investigate a current challenge in the ARTisTREE District and look for solutions. One team looked at how to create a better path connection between the Courthouse square and Rebekah Park. A second team looked at how underutilized buildings in the ARTisTREE District could be re-purposed. The students’ well-researched and thoughtful ideas demonstrated how our youth involvement is critical as we envision the future of the ARTisTREE District.
A poster board designed by the students exhibits various amenities that could be incorporated into the path for visual interest along the route.
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ARTisTREE Master Plan
Robotics Club team members presented their ideas to Rachel Kavathe of Loci Creative as they prepared for their state-level competition.
ARTisTREE Master Plan
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ARTisTREE District Greensburg and Decatur County Indiana