Merrillville wants input on drafting master plan

A kickoff event for creating a new comprehensive plan is from 5-7 pm March 23 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway.

This event will be the first of 10 meetings dedicated to the creation of the plan, which has been named “Merrillville Momentum,” Town Manager Patrick Reardon said.

The comprehensive plan will address a variety of topics, including existing and future land uses, existing and projected demographics, housing, education, recreation, thoroughfares and infrastructure.

“The comprehensive plan is critical to the town because it will serve as a guide to how and where future investments are made,” Reardon said.

“It is intended to map out where new business, residential and recreational projects will fit with the current ones,” Reardon added.

Creating the comprehensive plan calls for the town to work with the entire community to develop a shared vision and a strategic plan with many goals, officials said.

The plan will also include strategies to implement those objectives, Reardon said.

At the kickoff, residents will learn how the comprehensive plan will be developed and surveys will be provided.

The comprehensive planning process allows citizens and businesses to express their thoughts for the future of the municipality, so it’s imperative the community participates.

“The plan will not succeed without the sustained input from the public,” Reardon said.