HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-28-2026 River Park Neighborhood Plan - Letters from the Public FILEDOutlook
Comments in support of the River Park Plan
From Info administrator <info@makesouthbend.com>
Date Mon 9/28/2026 6:50 PM
To DL-CCouncil Email <dl-ccouncilemail@southbendin.gov>; Chris Dressel <cdressel@southbendin.gov>
You don't often get email from info@makesouthbend.com. Learn whY. this is imr-ortant
Michelle + Nat FitzGerald
Owners of MAKE SOUTH BEND + RPAC
Event Organizers, Rebel Art Fest
2228 Mishawaka Ave, South Bend , IN 46615
574-303-7177
michelle@makesouthbend.com
Subject: 9/28 River Park Development Plan comments
Dear council,
Filed in Clerk's Office
Sl:.P 2 8 2026
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN
As business owners in River Park for the past 12 years, we are excited to see some attention coming to
our neck of the woods. As we own MAKE SOUTH BEND and the building it is housed in, we have been
putting a lot of effort into renovating and reviving the neighborhood .
Some parts of the plan are particularly exciting for us:
• Flexible Commercial Zoning: This is important to us as our makerspace supports the growth
of small businesses and mixed used zoning will bring more commerce and activity to the
avenue.Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings: As Owners of a 100 yr old building (the old
river park library) we love the part of the project that prioritizes the preservation and adaptive
reuse of existing neighborhood structures.
• Leveraging Potawatomi Park as a Cultural Stage: Each year we love hosting Rebel Art Fest
in the beautiful Potawatomi Park and the planned upgrades including establishing a formal
gateway directly from Mishawaka Avenue and improvements to the park will help make this
even more a beloved destination without becoming a headache for our Wall St. neighbors.
• Pedestrian Infrastructure and Foot Traffic: The traffic calming and streetscape improvements
on Mishawaka Avenue will make the business district safer for pedestrians, directly boosting foot
traffic for local art walks and seasonal gallery events.
Please vote in favor of this plan and restoring a historic neighborhood in our community to become a
better integrated part of South Bend's economy.
Sincerely,
Michelle FitzGerald
Nat FitzGerald
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September 24, 2026
Chris Dressel
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
SOUTH BEND
City of South Bend -Department of Community Investment
South Bend City Hall
215 S. MLK Drive Suite 500
South Bend, IN 46615
Dear Chris:
On behalf of Indiana University South Bend, I'm pleased to offer this letter of support
recognizing the completion of the River Park Neighborhood Plan. The River Park neighborhood
has been home to IUSB for over 60 years, and this plan provides inspiring examples of potential
improvements for residents, visitors and, of course, our students.
Of particular interest to IUSB are the renderings for the potential improvements to the east side
of campus along 20th Street and the areas around Potawatomi Park. The intersection of 20th
Street and Mishawaka Avenue truly could become a gateway of sorts to both the River Park
neighborhood and the IUSB campus. The proposed quality of place enhancements could prove
transformational for the entire community.
Enhancing the areas surroundin g our campus directly enriches student life and fosters a
deeper sense of place. Given that 80% of our graduates remain in the region, their experience
on and around campus plays a vital role in their decision to build futures in South Bend. The
River Park Neighborhood Plan offers creative concepts to help foster that vibrant environment.
We appreciate the plan's explicit recognition that campus property is exempt from the South
Bend Zoning Ordinance, as well as the clarification that any campus-related renderings are
purely conceptual and distinct from IUSB's official master plan. Indiana University is a
committed partner to our neighborh ood and broader South Bend community. Any
improvements made to the River Park neighborhood will complement our campus experience.
We look forward to seeing parts of the plan come to fruition as we maintain our campus and
look for opportunities to collaborate as neighboring partners.
Brian Pappas, PhD, JD, LLM
Chancellor
Filed in Clerk's Office
~tr 2 8 2026
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN
Office of the Chancellor Administration Building 1700 Mishawaka Avenue P.O. Box 7111 South Bend, IN 46634-7111
(574) 520-4220 fax (574) 520-4830
South Bend Plan Commission
and
South Bend Common Council
South Bend City Hall
215 S. MLK Drive
South Bend, IN 46615
To whom it may concern:
September 17, 2026
Gospel Center Missionary Church has been a mainstay of South Bend and the River Park
neighborhood for over 75 years. We have seen the ebbs and flows of this neighborhood
and have endeavored to be a benefit and a blessing to its residents.
I personally have been a part of the River Park Neighborhood Association for over 8
years and involved in the current River Park Neighborhood Plan from its very beginning.
In its current form, it is certainly imperfect. Everyone can find an area where they would
disagree. But, what I see in this Plan is a huge step forward for this community and a
means by which the neighborhood will experience significant improvements in our
standard of living, safety and business viability.
Therefore, Gospel Center wishes to express our complete support for this Plan and
commend Senior Planner Chris Dressel and his entire team for their expertise, flexibility
and cooperation in this long process.
God Bless You!
Sincerely,
'PaatM ~ g'~
Community Pastor
Gospel Center Missionary Church
Filed in Clerk 's O;'r~ce
Str 2 8 2026
. Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN
• ------·---••••• ----------------------------------
RES-2026-01
A RESOLUTION OF THE RIVER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION EXPRESSING STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE RIVER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND REQUESTING CONTINUED
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN FUTURE MAJOR PROJECTS
WHEREAS, the River Park Neighborhood Association (RPNA) represents the residents, businesses, and
community members dedicated to the vitality, safety, and growth of the River Park neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the City of South Bend, in partnership with neighborhood residents, local business owners,
and community stakeholders, has undertaken a comprehensive planning process to develop the River
Park Neighborhood Plan; and
WHEREAS, the River Park Neighborhood Plan outlines a thoughtful, forward-looking vision for our
neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the success of any master plan relies upon strong collaboration , transparency, and ongoing
partnership between city government and the community it serves;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RIVER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION:
SECTION 1. The River Park Neighborhood Association hereby expresses its strong support to the South
Bend Common Council for the formal adoption and implementation of the River Park Neighborhood Plan .
SECTION 2. This strong support is offered with the explicit expectation that the City of South Bend and
the South Bend Common Council will continue to meaningfully involve the River Park Neighborhood
Association and River Park residents in ongoing conversations, planning stages, and decisions regarding
future large projects and major developments identified within or arising from the plan.
SECTION 3. The Association requests that city officials maintain open communication channels and
provide regular public updates, including at monthly meetings of the River Park Neighborhood
Association, as individual projects within the plan move from conceptual stages into implementation .
SECTION 4. A copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the members of the South Bend Common
Council, the Office of the Mayor, and the department of Community Investment as a formal statement of
the River Park neighborhood's position and commitment to collaborative growth.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the River Park Neighborhood Association on this 10th day of September,
2026.
, River Park Neighborhood Association
Filed in Clerk's Office
Str 2 8 2026
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN
To Whom It May Concern,
John Adams High School
808 S Twyd:enham Drive, South Bend, IN 466 5
Phone: (574) 353-5300 Fax: (674) 283-7704
adams sb; school
Hello, my name is Colin Bums, the Athletic Director at South Bend John Adams High School.
l'm writing this letter in SUPPORT of the River Park Neighborhood Plan. Located right down the street from us,
this great neighborhood has many students who attend our school and they provide great support for our efforts. We
have many businesses down Mishawaka Avenue who sponsor various activities both in athletics and academics.
On the River Park Neighborhood Plan, we have a stake here as our Boys Soccer teams practice at the grass area
where the old Nuner Elementary School used to be. It's been our practice home for several years and it's paid off
dividends as our school has won four sectional championships in the last seven years.
It's what we have though. We 're grateful for the available space and ability to practice close to school. But it could
be so much better. The ground is uneven and full of holes. The drainage is not ideal after rain storms. There is no
restroom structure in the area so our team has to use port-a-potties. We often find discarded drug paraphernalia as
well throughout the practice surface.
The details for the Nuner Green Space in the River Park Neighborhood are a massive step in the right direction to
not only make the most of this area but improve the soccer field conditions. As Athletic Director, I usually have to
find creative ways to answer what should be the simplest of problems. In this example, though, the answer is right in
front of our eyes.
improving the Nuner Green Space wi ll be a boost to the River Park Neighborhood. It'll be a boost to our Boys
Soccer program as we continue to find ways to give our student-athletes the best resources for on-field success. Let's
not compromise their safety by falling sho1i here. We support the River Park Neighborhood Plan and hope its
implementation will have beneficial outcomes for the next quarter century.
Thank you and have a great day. Go Eagles!
South Bend Adams Athletic Director Colin Bums
Filed in Clerk 's C '!i ,":e
~rr' 2 8 2026
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN