Source: Center for Rural Engagement
Recognizing that strong communities are built through connection, Montgomery residents and leaders envisioned a gathering space where neighbors could come together and community life could flourish.
That vision became reality on May 15, 2026, with the opening of Main Street Park in downtown Montgomery. The park features a mural, gazebo, benches, fountain, green space, and a large fir tree that will be decorated and lit during the holidays. The design provides residents with a welcoming place to gather, celebrate, and create new memories.
The project brought together Daviess County leaders, residents, the Center for Rural Engagement, and students and faculty from the IU Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design to develop a plan for the park. The effort took shape over three semesters through a collaborative planning and design process.
Beth Huffman, a longtime Center for Rural Engagement faculty partner and lecturer in comprehensive design at the Eskenazi School, and Kara Rasure, a visiting assistant professor at the school, guided students through coursework centered on Montgomery’s goals for the project. Both emphasized community-engaged design, encouraging students to develop solutions shaped by local priorities and resident input.
“Sometimes there might be an idea you’ve never thought of that you really like or a style that you didn’t know that you liked or that you think could work well,” Huffman said.
In the introductory design studio, Huffman and Rasure also stressed the importance of listening to community partners and responding thoughtfully to their needs. Through research, site observation, community engagement, and design development, students were encouraged to create imaginative solutions rooted in the town’s vision.
“What stood out to me the most was that the final chosen design seemed to bring together ideas from many students … the final design reflected a larger collective effort,” Rasure said. “Their work could contribute to how people gather, navigate, and celebrate a place.”
For the students involved, the partnership offered a rare and motivating glimpse into the tangible power of their discipline. Louis Pascarella, now a rising senior, was introduced to community-engaged design through the project during his sophomore year. The experience inspired him to continue that work as a student fellow with the Rural Placemaking Studio, where he collaborates with communities and real-world clients alongside fellow students.
“It was a cool opportunity to have a real-world impact, just because a lot of stuff that you do in class is kind of theoretical and just doesn’t have an impact really, but working with actual clients feels more meaningful,” Pascarella said.
As a comprehensive design student, Pascarella said it was rewarding to see elements of his ideas incorporated into the final project. Through the experience, he learned how thoughtful design decisions can strengthen a sense of place while building on what already makes a community unique.
While the design studio visualized the park’s future, Rebecca Keough, a Rural Scholar at the center and master’s student in the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, gained professional grant-writing experience by identifying local priorities and shaping proposals. She frequently highlighted plans for the mural, recognizing its emotional significance and its ability to connect potential funders with the community’s story.
That work helped secure a $5,000 Every County Funded grant from the Indiana Arts Commission to support the mural.
“Community engagement really matters to me, and I already felt a strong connection to the community. I was a bit nervous at first since I didn’t have experience writing grants, but the work ultimately felt truly meaningful and impactful,” she said.
The design concepts and grant proposals developed through the project helped build momentum for the initiative, giving community leaders the foundation needed to pursue funding opportunities. The town raised $50,000 through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s CreatINg Places program, which the agency matched to bring the total to $100,000.
Additional grants and donations increased funding to about $160,000, according to Montgomery Town Council President Mike Healy, who noted that in-kind contributions made the project’s overall value significantly higher.
Main Street Park is the culmination of a shared vision brought to life through the dedication of Montgomery residents, local leaders, and university partners. What began as an effort to strengthen downtown Montgomery has become a lasting community asset—a space shaped by local priorities, built through collaboration, and designed to bring people together for generations to come.
