Fort Wayne – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) announced Greensburg has earned an Aim Placemaking Award for their Building Bridges Inclusion Park. The city was honored with this award on Wednesday, October 10th during the Annual Awards Luncheon – presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC during the 2024 Aim Ideas Summit in Fort Wayne. Greensburg won in the 5,000 – 20,000 population category.
Greensburg’s Building Bridges Inclusion Park was inspired by Police Chief Brendan Bridges after his son Jaxon, who is autistic and nonverbal, experienced the benefits of an inclusive playground in Ohio. Recognizing the need for a similar space in Greensburg, the community rallied to create a park where children of all abilities can play together, fostering social and cognitive skills in a safe environment.
The park, completed three years ahead of schedule thanks to $800,000 raised through crowdfunding, private donations, and local government support, opened in fall 2023. Designed for children aged two to fourteen, it serves as both a playground and a symbol of the community’s commitment to inclusivity, raising awareness of disabilities and inspiring the creation of more welcoming spaces.
“There is so much to love about the Greensburg Building Bridges Park. The personal story that provided the inspiration, community support through crowd funding, and the growth in awareness for persons with disabilities. I am so proud to announce Greensburg as one of this year’s Placemaking Award winners.”
The Placemaking Award highlights programs or projects that have been implemented and demonstrate new approaches for solving municipal challenges. Placemaking projects also exemplify the positive impact of planning, regeneration, or economic development work on the physical quality of a place, as well as the economic and social well-being of a community. Nominations must have a physical aspect. Awards are presented in multiple population categories based on nominations received.
In its 48th year, the Aim Annual Awards program, presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC, recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A seven-member panel of qualified judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.
Conference Facts:
2024 Aim Ideas Summit
October 8-10, 2024
Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne
Attendance: 1,000 (pending final registration count)
Further information: www.aimindiana.org
Since the 1890s, Aim, formerly the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, has been an advocate for Indiana municipalities. Aim is the official voice of municipal government in Indiana, with more than 460 cities and towns as members. Our purpose is to foster, promote and advocate for the success of Hoosier municipalities as laboratories of innovation, hubs of talent and the engines driving our state’s economy.