In the last few years, the employees of Mishawaka have been working hard to improve the quality of life throughout the city. They have thoughtfully been planning and creating new amenities for citizens to enjoy. Within the past two weeks, four of those projects have been revealed to the public. There have been numerous celebrations of the achievements made to improve the quality of life within Mishawaka. These events included three ribbon cuttings and one dedication ceremony.
The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of the Juday Creek Water Treatment Plant was held on May 16th. The ribbon cutting took place at Juday Creek at 10am to inaugurate the new Mishawaka Utilities Treatment Plant. Dave Majewski, Water Division Manager, introduced the $40 million plant, a project that has been in development for 12 years within Mishawaka Utilities. The Juday Creek Treatment Plant is a significant addition to Mishawaka Utilities, producing 8.2 million gallons (about 31040362 L) per day. The new water treatment plant guarantees clean sustainable water for years to come.
Three days after the ribbon had been cut for the Juday Creek Water Treatment Plant, The Mayor Dave Wood Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) celebrated the ribbon cutting of “The Mish” pocket park. The Pocket Park was designed by the MYAC and features a selfie spot in an artful “The Mish” sign. The sign will let users become the “I” in the sign. The art wall mural depicts the St. Joseph River as it runs through Mishawaka. The park also includes seating, landscaping, bicycle rack, and an information display board.
The next ribbon cutting was on May 23rd at the newly renovated Crawford Park. The remodeled park was designed to improve the quality of life of Mishawaka’s citizens. The Crawford Park ribbon cutting was held to celebrate Phase One of the renovations. Phase One includes a brand-new playground, splash pad, restroom building, pavilion, and an upgraded parking lot with handicap accessibility. The highlighted feature of the park is the brand-new playground. The playground was designed for children of all abilities to be able to engage and play together, fostering an inclusive environment. The playground features wheelchair accessibility, music pieces designed for sensory experiences, and accommodations for children with visual impairments.
The final event was the Dedication Ceremony of Veterans Walkway. Located at Battell Park, the dedication of Veterans Walkway was held on May 25th. Mayor Wood led the dedication, and he was joined by Mishawaka’s veterans. The ceremony featured several moving elements including the singing of the national anthem, the blessing of the walkway, a 21-gun salute, and the lighting of the eternal flame. Mayor Wood invited Ross Portolese, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and former Mishawaka employee, to press the button to ignite the flame. The eternal flame signifies the continuous acknowledgment of the courage and dedication of our veterans, ensuring their contributions are never forgotten. The walkway pays homage to veterans and fallen soldiers, featuring 15 informational glass-etched displays that highlight Mishawaka’s historic war contributions.
The city of Mishawaka has had multiple accomplishments to celebrate within the past two weeks, but additions to the city are far from over. Employees of the city are working hard behind the scenes to create more elements to benefit the city and its citizens. With time, there will be more amenities that will further improve the quality of life within Mishawaka.
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