Residents of Crown Point have a lot to get excited about in the near future. Mayor Peter Land shared several reasons why there’s so much to look forward to at the State of the City address at Bulldog Park on Wednesday, May 29.
Mayor Land opened the event by presenting nine awards to those that have devoted themselves to the City of Crown Point. He started off by presenting the Business Longevity Award to six organizations committed to the city for several years. These businesses include the American Dream Realty, American Legion Post 20, Barney’s Hub Bootery, Franciscan Health, Jadco Limited, and Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply.
“It's always good to recognize that longevity,” Land said. “Besides these businesses doing their operations, they're great partners of the city. There's so much collaboration between the city and the business community. Often the public isn't aware of what we all do and put together to make Crown Point a great place.”
Along with the business recognition, two students from Crown Point High School were honored with the Youth Community Achievement Award. This award was presented to Julianna Rush and Christopher Kotul, who dedicated more than 600 hours of community service combined to the City of Crown Point.
The last recognition presented was the Developer of Excellence Award, which was dedicated to Jeff Ban, President at DVG Inc. Mayor Land was pleased to present him with this award, as he noted how Ban personifies the idea of building stronger communities and shows a creative appreciation for the city.
Following the award presentation, Mayor Land provided updates on the latest activities within each department. One of the areas that was noted to have a lot of positive changes was human resources over the past year.
“Last year, the national average health insurance rose by 10%,” Land said. “In Crown Point, we actually saw a decrease in healthcare costs. That’s incredibly rare, especially with an average growth of 10%. We also saw a decrease in our prescription drug program. It’s really been a collaborative effort.”
Another area of excellence that Mayor Land spotlighted was how the police department has continued to make Crown Point a city where its residents can feel welcome and protected.
“In 2023 and dipping into the first quarter of 2024, Crown Point is ranked as the third safest community in the entire state of Indiana,” Land said. “For communities with a population of more than 30,000, Crown Point is ranked as one of the safest cities in Indiana. That’s largely attributed to the police department and to the entire community.”
There are major plans in store for public works projects in Crown Point. Mayor Land talks about one project that the city started working on in 2023.
“We started what will be the most comprehensive expansion and enhancement project for our wastewater plant and infrastructure in our city’s history,” Land said. “We do this because it's important for addressing the needs not just now, but also for Crown Point in 10 to 20 years. It’s a multi-year phasing project culminating in what will be a second wastewater treatment plant and a 45-acre site east of Crown Point.”
While there is plenty to be excited about for the latest update on these projects, Mayor Land was eager for the opportunity to share a slate of big news to conclude his speech.
He started off by stating that Sauermann Woods is currently in the second phase of the project that started in late 2022. Another major update for Crown Point residents is that there will be information on a brand-new skate park as early as next month.
“We’ve had a skate park in Crown Point for years,” Land said. “It’s a little bit past its prime. We’ve been trying to be able to build a new one in the city for several years and we’re finally able to do it. The skate park will be within the Crown Point Sportsplex campus.”
For another year, Crown Point has been chosen as the host city for the National Softball Association World Series. More than 260 teams from all around the country will be coming to Crown Point to participate in July in this event. Mayor Land announced that the city will be hosting the Cal Ripken Baseball World Series this year, but also in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Teams from all across the globe will be participating such as Australia, Germany, Mexico, Taiwan, Panama, and the Czech Republic.
Finally, Mayor Land announced two brand new things to look forward to in Crown Point this year. The city was selected to host the 45th Annual National Wiffle Ball Championship at the Crown Point Sportsplex in August. They will also be hosting a New Year’s Eve ball drop on the east side of the town square, making Crown Point the first city in the Region to have one. Mayor Land cannot wait to kick off all these new opportunities coming to their city very soon.
“One thing that remains is our Crown Point spirit,” Land said. “Our most important goal is for us to plan for our future while remembering our past.”
The event also included food vendors such as Coppolillos Italian Steakhouse, Meraki Hospitality Group, and Theo’s Dining Group.
For more information on the City of Crown Point, you can visit their website.
