Town Projects

The Prairie West Park parking lot improvement construction work is currently in progress. The project will greatly expand the number of available parking spaces for community events. Improvements include a parking lot layout expanded to the east and south, repaving the existing lot, seal coating the pathway, and all associated paint striping. Effort will be made to phase the work so portions of the existing parking lot remain available to the public during construction.

For those just catching up, the Heartland Park Expansion Project is set to transform 40 acres at the corner of White Oak Avenue and 109th Avenue into a vibrant community destination.

Plans for this exciting development include:

• An amphitheater with a stage and covered seating for large-scale events
• Multipurpose spaces and an open-air pavilion
• Indoor community rooms for year-round use
• A destination-style splash pad featuring slides, climbing structures, vertical water features, dry play zones, and a re-circulating water system

The project is expected to go out to bid in mid-October 2025, with construction anticipated to begin in late Fall/ early Winter 2025. To fund this project, the Town has approved a lease agreement between the Redevelopment Commission and the Redevelopment Authority. For a closer look, check out the PowerPoint presentation shared at the June 25th Town Council Meeting.

Splash Pad

The state-of-the-art Splash Pad design, which is a destination-style attraction, is packed with fun and features for all ages.

Playground

The dry play area will include separate playgrounds for toddlers and older kids, built on different levels to suit each age group. A fun hillside slide and connecting sidewalks will link the two spaces.

White Oak & 109th Roundabout

Engineers are completing the design of the roundabout. NIPSCO’s engineers are currently preparing plans to relocate their overhead and underground utilities to make room for the expanded roadway. Utility relocation work on-site is expected to begin late fall, with road construction beginning in the spring of 2026.

Permanent restroom facilities are coming soon to The Gates Park (10201 Park Pl, St. John, IN)! The project will go out to bid this month. The year-round facility will be located between the playground and pickleball courts and will include men’s and women’s restrooms, a picnic shelter, water fountain with bottle filler, and diaper changing station. Construction is anticipated to begin in late Fall and final completion in Spring 2026, weather permitting.

Preliminary plans have been developed and a field check is scheduled for later this month. Based on the Town’s future needs and feedback from residents, the project scope has been updated to include a Two-Way-Left Turn Lane and improvements to the existing stormwater system. Utility relocation is now expected to occur between Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, with the construction of the multi-use path and full roadway reconstruction anticipated to be completed by late Fall 2026.

Grimmer Construction continues work on the well houses. The site work, buildings, sidewalks, and driveways are complete and work continues inside. The last step will be installing the new water pipe into the treatment plant on Park Place. The latest schedule shows both wells being online in the fall, weather permitting.

Milestone Construction has finished all paving work on the Town-Wide resurfacing project.

The commercial component of this project has received final plat approval, with site plan approval anticipated this month. Architectural design is still underway to accommodate restaurants on the first floor and professional office space on the second. While not all buildings will be two stories, those that are will feature professional offices on the upper level. Building construction is expected to begin later this year.