Chesterton is taking a step forward toward developing a trail linking the Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus with the downtown, highlighting the town’s Trackside Arts and Cultural District.
The Redevelopment Commission Monday gave its approval for the town to proceed with a request for proposal for a survey and design of the trail.
Council President Erin Collins, D-2nd, said that they are moving forward because U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said that the town’s application was approved by the U.S. House. The grant for $250,000 must still be approved by the U.S. Senate and signed off on by President Donald Trump.
The town has also applied for a READI (Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative) grant for the project known as the Arts & Cultural Trail.
The 8-foot-wide trail would start at the Morgan Avenue entrance of the YMCA east to South Fourth Street, north to Indiana Avenue and then north on South Third Street to Broadway, where it would proceed east to join with Calumet Road.
A distinctive gateway and wayfinding signs — pointing toward arts and cultural attractions — would also be featured with the plan.
Calumet Road downtown, between Indiana Avenue and the railroad tracks, would also get a streetscape enhancement under the plan.
Meanwhile, the Redevelopment Commission decided to wait until next month to decide the next step for a proposed pedestrian improvement project at the Calumet Road track crossing downtown.
Assistant Town Engineer Matt Gavelek told the commission — which consists of all five town council members — that the Norfolk Southern Railroad was insisting that the improved pedestrian walkway be on the east side of the crossing.
The town prefers that the improved pedestrian track crossing be on the west or right side of the gate, next to a parking lot at Grant Avenue.
Chesterton was looking to possibly install Z-gates that would force pedestrians to look both ways when crossing the tracks. There is pedestrian traffic across the tracks on Saturdays when the European Market is held from May through the end of October.
“Are they having a shortage of asphalt with the railroad company?” Councilman James Ton, R-1st, said sarcastically. He later explained that the railroad would have to be involved with any paving within 10 feet of its tracks.
“It just seems to make more sense to have people cross at the right side of the gate,” Ton said.
Collins said it is “frustrating” because in earlier discussions, it seemed the railroad was amenable to having the pedestrian walk on the west side of the gates.
During the Town Council meeting, Utility Superintendent Dave Ryan reported that several hundred thousand gallons of untreated water had to be released into the Little Calumet River because of Sunday night’s storm that dumped nearly 3.5 inches of rain.
The town, since June 5, has been inundated with almost a foot of rain.
“Rain has been a huge thorn in our side, obviously,” Ryan said.
Chesterton’s wastewater treatment plant has a huge basin that holds 1.2 million gallons. This was the first time in eight years that the town has had to divert untreated water into the river, Ryan said.
Most of the extra water flow comes from stormwater runoff seeping into older sewers during heavy rain events, Ryan said.
Ryan gave his crew credit for doing the best it could under the circumstances.
Laura Schillmoeller, a resident, criticized the operation of the town’s Facebook page as divisive, particularly a recent post about Juneteenth.
The post in question referenced Congresswoman Maxine Waters with the phrase “Reclaim like Maxine” and former Vice President Kamala Harris with “Win Like Kamala.”
“Inserting living politicians turns what should be a neutral historical commemoration into political advocacy,” Schillmoeller said.
Collins defended the post, noting that the historical reference was accurate, particularly with Kamala Harris being the first Black female and Asian vice-president and presidential candidate. Collins also reacted to the town’s post online, noting that her comment to “keep on scrolling if you don’t like it” was in response to derogatory comments about Kamala Harris.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
