FRENCH LICK, Ind. (October 2, 2026) – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) has announced that the City of Bluffton is the recipient of a 2026 Aim Placemaking Award for its redevelopment of the Wells Community Aquatic Park. Bluffton was recognized during the Annual Awards Luncheon, presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, on Wednesday, September 30, at the 2026 Aim Ideas Summit in French Lick. Bluffton earned the award in the 10,000 to 50,000 population category.
Bluffton’s 1972 community pool had reached the end of its useful life, with structural leaks, an obsolete filtration system, a shuttered baby pool, and failing infrastructure throughout. Rather than simply replacing what existed, the City used the moment to address several community challenges at once. The Wells Community Aquatic Park, which opened Memorial Day 2026, was intentionally built on blighted city-owned land on Bluffton’s south side, a corridor that has seen minimal investment for decades. The new facility replaced four aging amenities with 15, including an eight-lane heated competition pool, a lazy river, a zero-depth ADA-accessible entry, a children’s water playground, aquatic climbing and ninja course features, family restrooms, a year-round community media event room, pickleball courts, and an ADA-compliant playground. With the closure of Ouabache State Park’s pool, it is now the only public aquatic facility in Wells County.
The project was made possible by a broad funding coalition. The City of Bluffton contributed $5.2 million through cash reserves and a TIF bond. Wells County committed $800,000, and Harrison and Lancaster Townships combined for another $360,000, confirming the facility’s role as a regional asset. Private philanthropy filled a significant portion of the remaining need: 109 private donors contributed or pledged more than $1.28 million, and a Patronicity grant plus a READI grant closed the final gap on the $8.5 million total. Community donors also purchased more than 2,700 complimentary passes so families can attend regardless of income. In its first summer, the park welcomed more than 11,000 visitors, surpassing the former pool’s entire previous season, and now employs 47 seasonal staff, a 34% increase from the year before.
“The Aim Community Placemaking Award honors communities that leverage public investment to shape the future of their cities and towns,” said Aim CEO Matt Greller. “The Wells Community Aquatic Park reflects a deliberate strategy to anchor Bluffton’s south side with a facility that serves every generation and every income level, made possible by an extraordinary coalition of local, regional, private, and state partners. We are proud to present a Community Placemaking Award to the City of Bluffton for the vision and coordination behind this exceptional investment.”
Learn more about the completed project here:
The Placemaking Award recognizes completed projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to addressing municipal challenges. These initiatives should showcase how planning, revitalization, or economic development efforts have improved the physical environment and enhanced the economic and social well-being of the community. Eligible projects must include a completed physical component within the past year. Awards are presented in multiple population categories based on nominations received.
In its 50th year, the Aim Annual Awards program, presented by Baker Tilly, recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A seven-member panel of judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.
Conference Facts:
2026 Aim Ideas Summit
September 29-October 1, 2026
French Lick Springs Resort | French Lick, Indiana
Attendance: 1,100 (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.