Mishawaka has won a grant to make large fiberglass replicas of its historical Red Ball Jet Shoe brand, which it will place throughout the city. Photo from Red Ball Jets.

News Release

MISHAWAKA — The City of Mishawaka recently concluded a fundraising campaign through the Creative Places Program of the Community Development Authority and Indiana Housing, which celebrates the history of Mishawaka through shoe sculptures.

In particular, the city is looking to exhibit a series of replicas of Red Ball Jet Shoes in different public places throughout Mishawaka. Cindy Reinoehl, a member of Mayor Dave Wood’s office, said the mayor’s youth council came up with the idea.

At the end of last week’s fundraising campaign, Misawaka had raised more than $88,000, which the IHCDA will match with a $35,000 donation.

The replica shoes are four feet high by about six feet long and made out of fiberglass. According to Reinoehl, the city is still examining details on how many shoes to order and where to place them. She said there the Iron Works Plaza downtown, where the Ball-Band factory was located, will definitely get a replica.

The Ball Jet sneakers were first released in 1951, produced in the Ball-Band factory. The shoes stopped being produced when Uniroyal acquired the brand and factory in 1971.

Uni Royal itself lasted until 1997, and in 2000 the factory was destroyed as part of the development of downtown Mishawaka. In 2021, Red Ball Jet brand returned and now sells the shoes online.

Reinoehl said that Mishawaka High School, Marion High School and Penn High School — all high schools in Mishawaka — will have one of the shoes in front of its building. Sponsors, including schools, will get to custom paint their shoe replicas.

Other possible places include Mishawaka Field House, St. Joseph Hospital, Mishawaka City Hall, Mishawaka History Museum or University Park Mall.