Heart of Jasper working on new micro park and fun path connecting downtown to Riverwalk

The Heart of Jasper is developing a plan to connect Main Street and the Riverwalk with a path on Fourth Street. The plan includes redeveloping the city-owned parking lot next to Oink, Inc. into a small park described as a pocket park.

Heart of Jasper board president Ruger Kerstiens told the Jasper Redevelopment Commission that the nonprofit already has verbal commitments from private donors to create the park. The nonprofit also plans on seeking matching grants.

Kerstiens didn’t have schematics or renderings of the new park but described it as a gathering space that serves as a meeting point at the intersection of the new path and the Main Street renovations. The board envisions it as a covered area with some small play structures along with seating that can be used for gatherings or an outdoor area to eat and hang out. It could also have an outdoor ping-pong table and bocce court for adults.

The City of Jasper is considering a space to add public restrooms in the downtown area. According to City Planning Director Josh Gunselman, the county has become reticent about allowing the restrooms in the courthouse’s basement to be open for special events outside regular business hours.

With the early planning for the second phase of the Downtown Revitalization and Renovation project underway, the city is considering placing the bathrooms in the parking lot at Fourth and Main. Gunselman reiterated this is very early in the planning, and the process of converting the parking lot into a small park would have to be approved by various boards and likely the council.

According to Kerstiens, the Heart of Jasper, in alignment with the Downtown and Riverfront Development plan completed in 2013, would also like to see a multi-use trail in the middle of Fourth Street that incorporates fun elements like small play structures and art along the way.

Pointing to all the projects completed by the Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition that frame the entrance to the Riverwalk, Kerstiens said they want to connect these features to Main Street with a fun path. “We are trying to connect the major keys to Jasper’s downtown together,” he explained. “This (path) will tie the Riverwalk to Main Street and the Square.”

Kerstiens said they would like to see the park created in 2024 but acknowledged several levels of approval through the City of Jasper that must occur first.

He asked the redevelopment commission to use their funding for the Heart of Jasper to pay for the designs to be completed by Rundell Ernstberger Associates — the same firm designing the second phase of the downtown revitalization project.

The Heart of Jasper receives about $25,000 annually for downtown activation activities and projects through the Jasper Redevelopment Commission — these are tax incremental finance district funds. During Tuesday’s Jasper Redevelopment Commission meeting, the organization requested allocating the remaining funding ($13,000) from the 2023 funding and the amount allocated for 2024 to cover the cost of planning the new pathway and park.

The redevelopment commission approved the funding for the plans and designs of the path and park.