Harlan Community Park Master Plan

Harlan Community Park

The Harlan Community Park is in the heart of the Harlan community and is a place where residents and visitors gather for recreational activities and events such as the Harlan Days festival. A recent survey shows strong support for investment into the park, particularly for an enhanced playground, walking trails, and improvements to the baseball league experience. The proposed Harlan Park Improvement Project includes an accessible playground just north of the existing sport courts and existing playground, bleacher upgrade improvements throughout the baseball diamonds, and an asphalt road connecting the east and west drives which can also be used as a walking path. The park improvements would allow for more people to enjoy, as a community, the amenities that the Harlan Community Park has to offer. These improvements would not only enhance the Harlan Community Park but would allow the necessary maintenance and upkeep of a community asset.

Impacts:

• Enhanced opportunities for park and recreation in East Allen County which is currently underserved

• Improved accessibility and safety for pedestrians with the addition of the road connecting east and west drives, new bleachers, and an accessible playground.

• Enhanced space for community events.

• Increased opportunity for civic connection.

Readiness:

• Red Flag Survey: No significant environmental issues.

• Park is Owned by the Harlan Community Association (a 501c4)

Budget:  $530,000 

Possible Funding Partners:  Allen County Commissioners AWS Foundation 

Downtown Planning and Streetscape Enhancement Local Match: The Harlan Area Revitalization Task Force (HART) is a group of community volunteers that have been meeting as a result of the development of the Harlan Strategic Investment Plan. They are in the process of obtaining non-profit status and are working toward the betterment of the community in a number of ways. One way is in regard to the enhancement of their downtown. As part of theEast Allen Rural Revival Regional Development Plan , HART is interested in developing an Indiana Main Street organization, appealing to the State of Indiana to reduce traffic speeds through town, developing a  downtown streetscape plan and applying to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for funding toward a streetscape enhancement project.