Lisa Bennett dreams of the potential of a container park in Gary, while Paula Johnson hopes to expand cybersecurity and drone programs for teens at the Lowell-based Sea Cadets.
The women joined a packed audience Thursday as officials with the Legacy Foundation announced a $5 million gift from the Lilly Endowment, the largest in Legacy’s history.
Legacy, Lake County’s community foundation, will devote $4 million to a new program called Love Where You Live. The program’s aim is for nonprofit groups to partner with local governments to create or revitalize public spaces across Lake County, Legacy president and CEO Kelly Anoe told the crowd.
Applicants should have projects that are implementation-ready, and have a clear community benefit, and transform underutilized spaces.
The remaining $1 million will supplement the existing Transform Lake County and Resilience grant programs launched last year to fill funding gaps through 2027 for nonprofit groups and lessen the impact of the economy.
Anoe outlined the grant process at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 697 in Merrillville.
“Love Where You Live is about investing in the places that shape everyday life,” she said. “Through this $4 million grant, we are focusing on public spaces that foster connection and belonging, while our additional $1 million investment ensures continued support for organizations making a difference every day.”
Anoe said there’s a payback for Lake County communities.
“Investing in public spaces is about building places where people choose to live, because when people love where they live, they stay. They invest, and they help their community thrive.”
In addition to the $4 million public space investment, Legacy Foundation will add $1 million to expand Transform Lake County and Resilience grantmaking through 2027 to support the growth and stability of nonprofit organizations serving Lake County.
“At Legacy, we are committed to filling essential funding gaps to help people living in Lake County thrive,” said Anoe.
She offered some examples for the Love Where You Live grant, such as a reimagined downtown plaza, a park or trail enhancement, an amphitheater or a performance space.
“But don’t just take these examples as what Legacy wants to see. Listen to residents, use your own plans and ideas. Be creative. We want to see what all of you come up with.
“These aren’t spaces that are meant to sit empty or just look nice from a distance. They’re meant to be used and bring people together,” Anoe said.
Bennett, who’s interim director of GAPS or Gary Alumni Pathway to Students, envisions a shared space container park near downtown Gary that could hold offices, retail shops and restaurants.
She said Las Vegas was the first major city to build a container park, using repurposed metal shipping containers previously used to carry cargo on trains or trucks.
“It’s a really cool project, so you can have anything from restaurants to clarity spaces to retail shops,” she said.
GAPS is eyeing a site near downtown so the park can be near the South Shore station.
Johnson, commanding officer of the Sea Cadets, said the 20-year-old organization is little known and she would like to increase its profile. She said the Navy-sponsored program serves students, who wear Navy uniforms, in Lake County and parts of Porter County.
“We teach leadership, accountability, discipline, and stewardship, and what it means to be part of a community…” she said.
Johnson said the organization needs to upgrade its computers for cybersecurity training lessons and wants to expand its drone security program.
She said the programs are trade-based to help students become more marketable in the future.
Carrol Pirtle and Linda Pirtle, of Liberty House Recovery Café in Merrillville, said they hope to expand programs for women who come to the café after treatment and recovery.
John Freyek, chairman of the Legacy board of directors, said the places and programs established will endure.
“These are not short-term Investments. They’re commitments to the future of Lake County. Legacy Foundation exists because of trust,” he said of the donors who make the programs possible.
For more information, see legacyfdn.org.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter at the Post-Tribune.
