facility will expand tournament capacity year-round, supporting figure skating, curling, public skating, and youth hockey programs alongside national competitions. Plans for a full-service hotel and conference center address current capacity limitations.“We do not have enough conference space currently in Westfield,” Fairman explains. “The event center itself can be used for convention space, but it doesn’t really create that atmosphere for the more intimate type of gatherings. You’re not going to have a wedding reception in Grand Park Event Center, for example.” Water amenities will enhance visitor experiences through a canal connecting an existing lake to an additional pond, enabling kayaking, paddleboarding, and paddle boats.“It’s an element that’s not greatly available here in central Indiana,” Fairman notes. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Two parallel comprehensive planning efforts guide Westfield’s development through the next two decades. “We’re laying out a vision for the entire township that will probably take the next 20 years to actually build out, but we want to be proactive with that,” the mayor explains. The approach anticipates historical patterns in Hamilton County where municipalities eventually absorb their townships.A separate downtown revitalization plan addresses the three remaining quadrants, building on the completed southwest section. Both plans will integrate by year’s end. Growth management requires deliberate pacing. Grand Park is located within an Economic Development Area, enabling tax increment financing to fund additional infrastructure supporting the Grand Park District’s expansion. The 2025 civil city budget totals $120.9 million, funding a new police headquarters, additional fire and police personnel, and infrastructure projects including multiple roundabouts and road extensions. Educational demands mirror municipal growth. Westfield Washington Schools, the fastest-growing district in Indiana, enrolled nearly 9,800 students in 2023-24 and will open two new elementary schools 211 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 WESTFIELD, IN
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