INNOVATE INDIANA

ELKHART MARKET DISTRICT
BLUE ZONE INITIATIVE
Vision
The Innovate Indiana Plan is built on the idea
of creating Innovation Districts that spur
creative solutions to community issues, one
of which is developing in downtown Elkhart.
The City has developed a plan to move
forward with local and regional partners in
establishing Elkhart as a Blue Zone community
with downtown as the center of that Blue
Zone. The program is built around nine key
concepts that stimulate healthy, active and
engaged residents that live full lives and
enjoy personal success as well as contributing
to the success of their community.
The marketability of the housing project is
dependent on creating a livable environment
where resident will choose to live. Providing
commercial and service opportunities in
close proximity to their homes is critical for
the urban living experience that will attract
residents for the housing development. The
commercial and services businesses will
benefit from the project’s 600 new residents
that will frequent their establishments. This
will all be connected by pedestrian friendly
streets and our popular RiverWalk system.
As more residents choose to live in
downtown Elkhart, the higher density
development will require great community
and outdoor spaces for them to enjoy.
The location of this development is very
attractive along the Elkhart River. This River
is a wonderful nature amenity that allows
for small craft access for kayaks and canoes
MARQUEE PROJECT V | SECTION 6
as well as fishing or even just taking a stroll
along our beautiful RiverWalk. The RiverWalk
Multi-Use path connects the downtown
assets along the RiverWalk Culture Trail.
The sports complex will complement existing
sports fields at Elkhart Central High School
and Nibco Soccer Complex to create a
density of facilities that will serve local youth
sports groups, expand Elkhart schools sports
offerings and attract regional sports travel
tournament opportunities.
This cluster of facilities will complement
existing sports-related assets in the
Northern Indiana region by offering state
of the art facilities to support swimming/
diving, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, volleyball,
basketball, full-field indoor turf, paddling/
rowing and other river related activities. In
addition, the development of these facilities
greatly enhances the ability of the region to
host travel sports events and activities. The
activities generated at these new facilities,
when combined with existing sports tourism
assets such as the fields and ice rinks at
the University of Notre Dame and Culver
Academies, and with the Indoor Sporting
Complex planned for Mishawaka, will serve
to draw thousands of visitors and millions of
dollars of visitor spending to the Northern
Indiana region. Hotels and restaurants across
the region will all benefit significantly from the
increase in sports related visitors to the area.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE REGION ENGAGED CURRENT TRENDS
STATE OF THE REGION
& QUALITY OF PLACE
VISION & STRATEGY
PROJECTS
STAKEHOLDERS, EXECUTION
& STRUCTURAL CHANGES
BENCHMARKING
& MEASUREMENT
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT