ensuring these initiatives enhance quality of life for our residents.” “When visitors come to Kendallville for a tournament or golf weekend, they experience more than just great facilities,” Mayor Waters reflects. “They discover a community that understands how to balance growth with authenticity, progress with tradition.That’s what keeps them coming back—and sometimes, deciding to make Kendallville their home.” KENDALLVILLE’S PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY In the heart of Indiana, Kendallville is writing a new chapter in small-city sustainability. Through a combination of innovative energy projects, adaptive reuse of historic properties, and forward-thinking infrastructure planning, the city is demonstrating how communities can embrace environmental stewardship while honoring their industrial heritage. The transformation of the former McCray Refrigeration site is the centerpiece of these efforts. For over a century, the property produced refrigeration units shipped worldwide. Today, it represents the city’s sustainable future as a state-of-the-art solar field. “The McCray transformation embodies everything we’re trying to achieve,” Mayor Waters explains.“We took a historic industrial site which was destroyed by fire and reimagined it for the future, investing $2 million to create something that benefits our entire community.” The solar installation now generates enough power to make the city’s wastewater treatment plant entirely self-sufficient, with capacity to spare for future expansion. This achievement carries both practical and symbolic significance—a former manufacturing site now powers the infrastructure that supports new development and growth. The project, funded through municipal bonds and organizational contributions, has become a model for repurposing industrial properties. The city is actively pursuing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the downtown area, with applications submitted for six stations. The city’s green infrastructure master plan emphasizes 56 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 02
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