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ROSE RUN PHASE II & VETERANS MEMORIAL COMING TO VILLAGE CENTER

With the completion of the first phase of Rose Run Park and the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater along with the continued growth of restaurants and retail at Market Square, New Albany is turning its focus to the next phase of development – the connection of Market Square to the historic Village Center.

Since 1998 when our first strategic plan was enacted, New Albany has been committed to developing a dynamic Village Center that incorporates our community pillars – lifelong learning, arts and culture, health and wellness, and sustainability.

We got here because of the businesses that took a chance on us and believed in our future, from Elliott Cooper, Eye Designs and Learning Express (which celebrated 20 years at Market Square this year) to Hayley Gallery, Rusty Bucket and more. We owe a debt of gratitude to residents who saw the potential for a city like no other. And, we have been fortunate to collaborate with partners who have a vested interest in our community, including the New Albany Plain-Local Schools, New Albany Community Foundation, Healthy New Albany, Plain Township and The New Albany Company.

When it came to establishing Market Square, the Columbus Metropolitan Library New Albany Branch became the cornerstone. Land donated by The New Albany Company facilitated the development of The Heit Center for

Healthy New Albany which, along with the luxury apartments, fueled retail, restaurant and office growth along Market and Main streets. The result has been more foot traffic to support local businesses. In total, our $30 million investment in infrastructure helped spur more than $100 million in private development.

City Council also invested in upgrades throughout the Village Center, including burying utility lines, rebuilding roads and adding sidewalks and street trees to pave the way for continued growth. As we enter this new phase, we are eliminating barriers and building stronger physical connections between Market Square and the historic Village Center.

In 2022, City Council earmarked $2.5 million for design and construction documents for the extension of Rose Run Park to the east of Market Square. This work addresses engineering, storm water management, stream restoration and structural elements. When completed, this new civic asset will feature a Veterans Memorial and parking facility.

As far back as 2000, the vision for a vibrant Village Center with a robust mix of retail, restaurants and cultural arts district connected by a green corridor encompassing parks and leisure trails was aspirational. With every piece of the puzzle, from the library, Raines Crossing and the Heit Center to the McCoy Community Center for the Performing Arts and Hinson Amphitheater, we are turning that vision into reality. We are creating the energy, synergy and connections that will draw more people to our Village Center, spur more private development and bring us together as a community while setting us apart from the rest.