Huntingburg’s Market Street Park opens

Despite a rainy Friday evening, Huntingburg officials, residents and state representatives gathered for the dedication of the city’s newest park.

Situated between Third and Fourth streets and Main and Geiger streets, the park accentuates the city’s iconic Old Town Hall and creates a gathering place for residents.

Staggered covered parking that doubles as sheltered area during events points to the Old Town Hall’s clock tower from Main Street. The area between the covered parking and the Old Town Hall is Menke Plaza; a seating area with a clear view of the German American Performance Pavilion.

The pavilion, which also serves as a covered shelter house, is accessible from Fourth Street and provides the county’s first outdoor amphitheater.

On the south side of the park, a legacy court and wall accents the city’s Stellar story to create the new park and includes all of the private individuals and companies that invested in the endeavor. The nearby lawn is surrounded by a walkway with a pergola and community swings.

Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner gushed at the changes to the former municipal parking lot that became a city attraction in recent years with the advent of the Garden Gate Jazz, Wine and Craft Beer Festival. Growing up on Walnut Street a few blocks away, he didn’t remember the area being a focal point for activity.

During Friday’s ceremony, he came to an impasse with his waterlogged notes and simply looked out at the crowd of umbrellas and said Market Street Park could never have happened without the community’s help.

“This is your park,” he said.