The corner of State Road 3 and Broad Street greets travelers to New Castle with towering maple trees, a breathtakingly large American flag, and a “Welcome To New Castle” sign. In 1981, the corner was relatively undeveloped. Soon after the Trojan Plaza started taking shape, the “Looking Up With Pride” campaign launched to help fund the enhancement of the highly visible corner which soon became known as “Your Park.” Over the years, the park has had several updates and will soon have a new addition designed to keep visitors and residents informed about local events.
How ‘Your Park’ Began
Mayor Greg York reminisced, “When I was a kid, there was nothing but a water fountain and parking lot. I can remember stopping there with my dad to get a drink of water.”
Everett Cole, long-time community volunteer, can remember what sparked the interest in developing Your Park.
“The Breakfast Optimists were starting a new club in Union City, and we would drive by a machine shop close to Winchester which had a big flag,” Cole recalled. “We stopped one morning, took a picture, and Albert C. ‘Bud’ Montgomery said, ‘We need one of those in New Castle.’”
Community Pride Leads To Success
At a time when unemployment in Indiana exceeded 10%, fundraising for any type of project seemed to be a daunting task. The Lions Club and Optimist Clubs joined forces and worked to raise the funds with the “Looking Up With Pride” campaign, primarily by selling 800 certificates at $10 each. This amount was matched by then-Henry Township Trustee Jack Reno by $5,000. The New Castle Foundation, predecessor to the current Henry County Community Foundation, provided a $2,000 donation and also a $3,000 matching grant. Bob Lauer and Jeep Freeburg, who had just completed the Kroger Plaza, joined the project. Lauer and Freeburg provided the design, material, and labor was provided, in an amount more than $5,000, to make the project a reality.
Your Park’s central focal point is the 80-foot flagpole, topped by a 20-foot by 30-foot American flag and surrounded by a foundation and walkway. A large “Welcome to New Castle” precast concrete sign has marble chips on the face and a bronze plaque on the back engraved with all the donors’ names.
Nine months after the “Looking Up With Pride” campaign began, a crowd of 600 community members attended the dedication ceremony on August 8, 1982. A heavy rainstorm could not diminish the excitement surrounding the community project. Brigadier General Bruce Harris arrived by helicopter for the dedication and many other community leaders were on hand for the special day. The day concluded with the enjoyment of a giant flag cake and punch provided by Kroger Sav-On.
“It indicates a respect for our flag, our community, and our country,” Cole said of the response of the community to donating and braving the rain at the “Looking Up With Pride” dedication.
Keeping The Corner Beautiful
Throughout the years, local seat-cover specialist Jim Lamberson repaired the flags that flew over one of New Castle’s most referenced corners. It became apparent in 2009 that the “Looking Up With Pride” flagpole needed to be replaced. The Optimist and Lions Clubs needed community help with the
flagpole purchase and replacement. Local people provided equipment and labor, including Mike Lauer, Randy Neal, Scottie Neal, Bud Hudson/Hudson Tool, and the New Castle Fire Department.
A decade years later, the corner’s landscaping needed to be refreshed, under the supervision of Webb’s Personal Touch. Henry Community Health stepped up as a funding partner to pay for landscaping, flag and flagpole maintenance, and clean up. The City of New Castle decorates the corner for Christmas with Santa and reindeer every year, and Henry Community Health continues to provide funding for Your Park’s maintenance.
“The corner is a first impression for residents and visitors alike,” noted Corey Murphy, President of the New Castle-Henry County Economic Development Corporation, which also manages Henry County’s tourism efforts through Henry County Destination Development. “I appreciate the community donors and volunteers who have celebrated our patriotic community while keeping it inviting. This includes the Optimist Clubs and Henry Community Health.”
New Digital Sign Connects Community To Events And More
Through networking with tourism professionals, Murphy learned that some communities effectively use digital signs for tourism marketing. This idea prompted him to ask community leaders for input on the idea, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The County Commissioners had designated food and beverage funding for bulletin board kiosks at several locations throughout the county. Murphy asked that these funds be redesignated to go toward the digital board which can stay more updated.
“This is one of the busiest intersections (non-interstate) in our county,” said Murphy. “It provides a perfect place for tourism-oriented messaging for our local residents and visitors.”
As an early organizer of the “Looking Up With Pride” efforts, Everett Cole shares Murphy’s enthusiasm for this new addition to the Your Park corner. Mayor Greg York also loves the idea.
“I have always wanted a billboard that shows time and temperature and can post information regarding events and activities in our city,” York expressed.
The sign is scheduled to be installed this month, and local volunteers are discussing a re-dedication open house. For more information about Henry County’s tourism efforts or to submit destination-worthy events for the sign and tourism website, visit HoopsInHenry.com.
