New Carlisle residents respond to possible new community center

NEW CARLISLE, Ind. -- The town of New Carlisle is looking to develop a new community center aimed at providing a gathering space for residents.

The New Carlisle community center Senior Project Manager, Scott Falk, said currently, they are gathering community feedback through a survey and public meetings as part of a feasibility study funded by Saint Joseph County.

The first of those meeting was held Thurs. evening at Olive Elementary School, where residents came to ask questions, share their ideas for a center, and hear from community and project leaders on why they want to bring the center to New Carlisle.

“We were brought in as a consultant by the county of South Bend… when they are coming in and putting in the data centers and everything else… this is kind of, it’s an enticement for the community because New Carlisle is a small town, and they like their small-town feel… We are looking at what the community itself needs…what’s missing for the community,” said Falk.

One resident at the meeting, Rosie Michiaels, said those big projects take away from the small-town feeling, which makes her want a community center even more.

“With the Amazon facility, the battery plant, this is… something that’s very passionate to me to have a community center. We need some after school care, things for our children to do, and I think that this is a wonderful thing that the town definitely needs,” said Michiaels.

She continued to explain while she’s excited, not everyone in her town feels the same.

“There are people in this community that don’t want to see change and they’re fighting it, but as the younger generation, my grandkids live here, my family lives here, so this is something that is definitely been needed for a long time,” said Michiaels.

At this stage, Falk said they’re just trying to get an idea of what people would want, with the Phase 1 Final Report expected sometime in June.

“Speak up. Let us know what you want… I want to hear the good things, I want to hear the bad things,” expressed Falk.

The next meeting will be held May 14th from 6-8 P.M. at the New Prairie High School Gymnasium, and you can click here to fill out that community survey.