Gary Indiana - University Park

The Plan

University Park is located approximately two miles south of Gary's Downtown. It is strategically located immediately to the south of the Borman Expressway, I80/94, and on a major regional open space, the Little Calumet RIver Corridor. The neighborhood stretches south to Ridge Road, and between I-65 and Grant Street. The study area also extends along Broadway from I-80/94 to 40th Street.

University Park is a residential neighborhood of bungalows and single-family homes within the wider Glen Park area. It is home to a collection of educational institutions : Indiana University Northwest, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Ivy Tech State College and the Gary Career Center. Broadway and Ridge Road are major arterial streets that intersect in the neighborhood while another, Grant Street, lies to the immediate west.

This concept plan for University Park was created because of the community's importance to the CIty of Gary. It is a stable community that offers excellent regional access, a strong residential community and a rich collection of institutions. However, University Park needs a concept plan because there are a number of concerns about its future.

These include

• How can current residents be retained and new residents be attracted to the neighborhood?
• How will University Park improve the condition of its housing stock, fill vacant lots and direct the development of new housing in the community?
• How can the amount and quality of retail services be improved to serve residents, students and faculty and visitors?
• What is the future of Broadway, a once thriving but now declining commercial corridor?
• How will local institutions grow in the future?
• How can the current open space system be enhanced and benefit the surrounding community?
• How will new community facilities be incorporated into the neighborhood?
• How can links between institutions and residents be strengthened?
• How can we stimulate and direct future growth?

The purpose of the Concept Plan is to build a consensus about the future of University Park, establish directions for new development and identify priority projects for the City of Gary, local institutions and the community to pursue.