FRENCH LICK – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) is honoring the City of West Lafayette with a 2019 Community Placemaking Award for its State Street redevelopment project. The city will receive the award on August 28 at the Aim Annual Awards Luncheon, presented by Baker Tilly, at this year’s Aim Ideas Summit. West Lafayette won in the 15,001 to 50,000 population category.
The project rebuilt key portions of the transportation network of West Lafayette and Purdue University to create a modern roadway to address the needs of students, residents and businesses. The project converted a prominent road from a three lane, partially one-way highway, into a two-way city street with a two-way cycle track and widened sidewalks. Along with visible improvements to West Lafayette’s transportation network, the project acted as a catalyst to a culture shift. Instead of vehicles, State Street is now built around quality of life attributes of the people it serves.
The project was realized through an innovative public-private partnership between West Lafayette and the Purdue University Joint Board.
“West Lafayette not only spearheaded a project to improve a vital piece of its transportation infrastructure, city leaders took a holistic view of the corridor’s use,” Aim CEO Matt Greller said. “Instead of focusing on the outdated premise that roads are solely for vehicles, State Street boasts a series of quality of life amenities that promote recreation and walkability. The project is a strong example of city leaders thinking creatively to deliver the best project possible for their community.”
In its 43rd year, the Aim Annual Awards program, presented by Baker Tilly, recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A nine-member panel of qualified judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.
Conference Facts:
2019 Aim Ideas Summit
August 27-29, 2019
French Lick Resort
Attendance: 700 (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.