WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – Forward Wayne County has launched Wayne County’s Countywide Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) for 2026-2033.
SIP was developed through a multi-step process that also relied on community input and drive. The process was led by Forward Wayne County, FWC Steering Committee, and HWC Engineering.
All incorporated communities in Wayne County were invited to participate, with ten of the 14 communities participating in workshops and stakeholder meetings.
Through the planning process, five investment areas were highlighted as priorities. Those areas include housing, infrastructure, parks and recreation, revitalization and beautification, and tourism.
These form a portfolio of more than 30 proposed projects. Some of these include the revitalization of Richmond’s Whitewater Gorge to rural enhancements in Greens Fork and infrastructure upgrades in Dublin.
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – The first phase of the Whitewater Gorge project is finishing up with the opening of Test Road Trailhead.
Denise Retz, Park Superintendent for Richmond Parks and Recreation, said the momentum behind the project started in 2019, when Richmond completed a comprehensive city plan, followed by a Park Comprehensive Master Plan. Both plans, developed with extensive public input, highlighted the need to better activate and invest in the Whitewater Gorge.
“The gorge trail has seen a lot of activity, it’s been utilized a lot,” Retz said. “So, there was a reason why we did start there. We wanted to open it up, we wanted it to be more accessible.”
The feedback led to the creation of the Gorge Activation Plan, a community-driven roadmap shaped through surveys and public meetings. The plan divides the gorge into three districts: south, central and north. The plan outlines priorities for each area, ranging from trail improvements and water access to recreation and future attractions.
Phase one focused on the south end of the gorge, home to the city’s oldest trail and trailhead. The goal was accessibility for everyone and a better connection to the river.
For this project, the city was able to secure Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, matched by the Richmond Redevelopment Commission. Additional partners later joined in, including Revitalize Richmond, Lilly Endowment, the Wayne County Foundation, and more.
“We have a lot of partners who have come together to say that they wanted to fund certain aspects of the activation of these projects, whether it be phase one, phase two, phase three,” Retz said.
Construction started last May. The newly improved trailhead now features:
ADA-accessible parking, ramps, and shelter
Handicap-accessible picnic tables
River overlook with steps down to the riverbed
New lighting, security systems and signage
Expanded parking and gated access from dawn to dusk
Three new “rest nodes” along the trail with benches, bike racks, and trash receptacles
Retz said these additions help to transform a trailhead that was aging, now into a welcoming destination connected to the city’s Greenway system.
“Before it wasn’t necessarily a good spot to want to come. Now it is,” she said.
Some finishing touches include a custom-built railing, additional lighting and electrical work; all of which are expected to be completed soon. Landscaping and tree mitigation have also been addressed, with more trees planted than were removed and an emphasis on low-maintenance designs.
With phase one complete, attention is turning north and central. The city has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a developer to handle phases two and three, with responses due in mid-January.
Planned improvements include:
Phase Two (North End): a Weir Dam overlook, fishing pier, kayak and canoe out-in, and potential future outfitter services along Sim Hodgin Parkway
Phase Three (Central Area): A natural playground, bouldering garden, riverwalk, potential amphitheater, and possible zipline partnership near the Starr-Gennett site
Current goals place phase two completion by the end of 2026 and phase three by 2028, depending on funding, permitting and development timelines.
Much of the funding is restricted grant and partner funding that cannot be used for other parks. Maintenance, Retz said, will be an ongoing priority.
Residents are encouraged to get involved by volunteering, adopting trail sections, and reporting issues directly to the Parks Department at 983-PARK, rather than only posting concerns on social media.
“These are all of our parks, so we want to make sure that we’re doing this together,” Retz said. “We believe our community deserves much more and we’re trying to give that to them.”
The Gorge Activation Plan is part of a broader push to reinvest in Richmond’s park system. Up next is the Glen Miller Improvement Plan, set to launch within the next month. Like the gorge plan, it will be community-driven, with public meetings and surveys guiding an eight-month planning process.
“Glen Miller serves as one of our big flagship parks and it should operate that way and look that way. We’re going to make that happen together,” Retz said.
Retz said the push to move these projects forward, combined with efforts like Revitalize Richmond, is creating momentum and encouraging people to strive for more.
“When you remain stagnant in what you do, or what you want, then there’s no purpose. You can be that person that wants to help and continue to drive things forward,” she said.
Residents can follow progress and updates at gorgeactivation.com, where project phases and timelines are posted.
INDIANA – Senate Bill 57, authored by State Senator Jean Leising of Oldenburg, has unanimously passed out of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
The bill would shift management of Indiana’s historic sites from the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites Corporation back to the Department of Natural Resources, which oversaw them until 2011.
It also creates a new DNR division dedicated to historic sites.
Senator Jean Leising serves District 42, which includes Fayette County.
INDIANA – Local governments across East Central Indiana are preparing for their first meetings of the month, giving residents a chance to follow decisions that shape everything from budgets to public safety.
Henry County
The Henry County Council meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 4:30. The Henry County Commissioners meet twice monthly on Wednesdays; upcoming meetings are set for January 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and January 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Meeting location: 101 S Main Street
New Castle, IN
The Planning Commission meets every third Thursday at 5 p.m.
1033 Ron Lampe Way
New Castle, IN
Fayette County
The Fayette County Council meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners Conference Room of the courthouse. Commissioners meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 2 p.m.
401 North Central Ave, 1st Floor, Connersville, IN
Randolph County
The Randolph County Common Council meets on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the courthouse.
100 South Main Street, Winchester, IN
Wayne County
The Richmond Common Council meets on the first and third Mondays at 7 p.m. The Board of Public Works & Safety meets every Thursday at 5 p.m. The PLAY Committee meets as needed, with the notices posted on the City of Richmond Facebook page.
All meetings take place on the third floor of the Richmond Municipal Building.
50 North 5th Street, Richmond, IN
Union County
The Union County Council meets on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. Commissioners meet on the first and third Fridays at 8:30 a.m. Meetings are held on the second floor of the courthouse.
26 W Union Street, Liberty, IN
Local officials emphasize the importance of public participation in the meeting process. Agendas and meetings are available online for anyone who wants to stay engaged with county and city government.
LIBERTY, Ind. - The Liberty Police Department has welcomed its newest officer, Tanner Earl.
Tanner previously served two years with Reid Hospital Police Department and more than five years as a Corrections Officer with the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.
