Herald file photo

From Local Sources

JASPER — Accelerate Indiana Municipalities, which serves as an advocate for Indiana municipalities, announced Tuesday that the City of Jasper has been named a 2018 Community Placemaking Award winner in the 10,000 to 20,000 population category. The city will receive its award today during the Aim Annual Awards Luncheon presented by Umbaugh at the 2018 Aim Ideas Summit in French Lick.

The city will be honored for The Parklands project, which converted a private golf course and the surrounding woodlands into a nature-based public space. Jasper spent several years acquiring the 75 acres necessary to bring the project to fruition.    

“The Parklands project is one of the most ambitious placemaking projects I’ve seen,” said Aim CEO Matt Greller. “The expansive project, in addition to being an economic driver for the city, is going to be a recreational destination for people all around the region. The community really hit a homerun with The Parklands and I’m excited to see the accolades they are receiving,”

In its 42nd year, the Aim Annual Awards program recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A nine-member panel of qualified judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.