WINONA LAKE — The Town of Winona Lake has been working with the Michiana Area Council of Governments to develop its first comprehensive plan known as “Imagine Winona Lake 2030 Comprehensive Plan.”

A comprehensive plan is the guiding policy document that empowers communities to create a long-term vision, address community challenges, and create solutions that offer better choices for where and how people live, work, and play.

The steering committee led the planning process in June, 2018, and was built on the foundation of community engagement. This included conducting stakeholder interviews, a public input survey, hosting pop-up events, and having a booth set up at Oktoberfest and the Taste of Kosciusko.

At pop-up events, the public had the opportunity to tell Committee members how they Imagine Winona Lake in 2030 and what they love about Winona Lake using a selfie polaroid frame. It was a unique experience as the Committee was able to engage over 640 residents.

The public also had an opportunity to complete an online survey to provide valuable feedback on their views of Winona Lake and future development opportunities, in which 155 residents responded.

Through the engagement process and analyzing Winona Lake’s existing conditions, the Steering Committee was able to identify priority action strategies with the intention to guide improvements for the next five to ten years. A draft of the Plan will be ready for public review by June 14, 2019.

The steering committee will be hosting an open house on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in the Council Chambers room of Town Hall. The open house will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the Steering Committee giving a presentation of the draft Plan, followed by an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the proposed action strategies.

“The steering committee has worked really hard and are looking forward to hearing the public’s input on the work that has been done in the last year developing our first comprehensive plan,” said Town Coordinator, Craig Allebach. “The Imagine Winona Lake Comprehensive Plan will serve as a blueprint for future development of Winona Lake. Public input is strongly encouraged and a vital component as we look to adopt the plan in the next few months.”

The open house is another opportunity to learn about the plan and provide your comments or ideas.

Council president Rick Swaim said “The Winona Lake Town Council is very excited to announce a Comprehensive Plan for the next several years that will be our guide for growth and development of our many assets as a community. Winona Lake has a rich heritage and an even brighter future. Our community is a destination for many who want to move to the area. With our beautiful Greenway, lake, mountain bike trails and other amenities, Winona Lake has a lot to offer.”

The Imagine Winona Lake 2030 Comprehensive Plan will be available for review on the town’s website, www.winonalake.net. For those who do not have internet access, copies of the plan will be available in the clerk’s office at Town Hall located at 1310 Park Avenue or the Parks Department, 1590 Park Avenue.