Business View Civil and Municipal l January 2023

33 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 outdoor recreation destination that features a magnificent natural atmosphere, with hundreds of acres of parklands offering diverse opportunities for all ages, including hiking, biking, golfing, skating and organized sports. The seat of Porter County and one of just a few Indiana communities with a growing population, Valparaiso is well known for its popular downtown, having won numerous awards for community spaces that are utilized year- round for gatherings and events of all kinds. Downtown’s Central Park Plaza, for example, boasts more than 200,000 visitors each year. George Douglas (Director of City Development), Mike Jessen (City Administrator), and Kevin Nuppnau (Assistant Director of Valpo Parks) represent the city affectionately known as ‘Valpo.’ Douglas begins with an overview of the community. “Valparaiso is in a great location within Northwest Indiana, close to Chicago as well as the natural beauty of Indiana Dunes National Park and Lake Michigan. We have a fantastic business community that VALPARAISO, IN is the bedrock of our city - our residents are very engaged civically and philanthropically, with a great interest in the outdoors.” “We are the home of Valparaiso University, which hosts over 3,000 undergraduate students, and our Valparaiso Community Schools district is recognized nationally in the top 25 of our state by the Department of Education. Our city has a vibrant downtown with a bustling restaurant scene that naturally attracts residents as well as visitors from throughout the Chicago region and beyond,” he adds. Nuppnau shares his experience as a member of the city’s award-winning Valpo Parks Department. “I was also born and raised in Valparaiso. I’ve been with Valpo Parks for five years, working alongside a tremendous team to bring outdoor recreational opportunities to the community. We serve greater Valparaiso as well as Center Township, providing programs, events and facilities that serve nearly 40,000 residents”