Planning for the Future

The City of New Albany will be presenting a draft of its updated COMPREHENSIVE PLAN to the New Albany Plan Commission at their meeting tonight at 5pm at City Hall. A Comprehensive Plan is a guiding document that cities establish to provide a framework and vision for the future of your city.

“This new comprehensive plan will set a new direction for New Albany,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “We are focused on making New Albany the best place to live in Indiana. Our resident-focused comprehensive plan was created, after a lot of public input and feedback, for the people who want to make New Albany their longtime home. 

New Albany stands at a pivotal moment in its evolution – the downtown transformation has been remarkable, and major public investments like the New Albany Shoreline, Monon South Freedom Trail, River Recreation site, and other amenities are being made to serve city residents and promote a strong sense of community.

The new Comprehensive Plan will build upon this momentum mindfully, with a large emphasis on increasing the availability and affordability of single-family homes. Yet the Comprehensive Plan takes important steps to balance growth opportunities with the preservation of the charming, neighborhood character and history that make our River City so special.

You can read the draft of the comprehensive plan on the City of New Albany’s Transparency Portal here: https://newalbanycityhall.com/transparency

PROTECTING NEW ALBANY’S NATURAL RESOURCES AND GREENSPACES

A statement from Mayor Gahan regarding:

PROTECTING NEW ALBANY’S NATURAL RESOURCES AND GREENSPACES

With bipartisan support, the City took emergency action to make the historic Glenwood Park dam safe. The dam has been fixed, and the danger has been removed. We were able to preserve a 100 year old asset that, if removed, would cost the taxpayers over $2 million to replace.

We are here because private corporations like Origin Park and River Heritage have refused to meet with city officials or elected community leaders for several years, despite numerous requests. Just last week we learned through media outlets that Origin Park now has plans to create a profit-generating Amusement Park instead of the originally announced nature preservation park. The planned Amusement Park will be on the banks of Silver Creek near New Albany, and it was reported that the Amusement Park will attract approximately 1.5 million visitors per year (three times as many visitors as nearby Kentucky Kingdom).

The leaders of River Heritage and Origin Park have not reached out to New Albany officials to discuss the potential problems associated with traffic, noise, and pollution created by their Amusement Park, nor the impact on local residents and the quality of life for those who drive, work, live, and play here. Many people enjoy the Greenway, Silver Creek Landing, the New Albany Shoreline, the New Albany Loop Island Wetlands, our downtown and other areas in and around New Albany as they exist today. We all need to know more about the plans of this Clark County-based private corporation, which has received $37 million in public tax dollars paid directly from state taxes, and what the impacts of their Amusement Park will be for the people of New Albany.

Locally, we have been able to make our historic dam safe and fight the legal battle brought on by River Heritage and Origin Park without overspending a single penny. The City of New Albany just completed our 14th consecutive audit by the Indiana State Board of Accounts (SBOA), the state agency that provides additional oversight and review of the city’s overall management of money collected through taxation. This year, we received one of the best audits we have ever received in New Albany. According to the SBOA’s audit, we have consistently performed in the top of all second-class cities in Indiana.

During my tenure, I have fought for exceptional greenspaces and for the protection of our natural resources. We know how important these assets are for the environment, as well as the physical, mental, and economic health of our community. When out-of-town private corporations attempt to seize New Albany’s public assets for private gain, we will always stand up for the people of New Albany.

City Unlocks Key Component For Future Monon South Freedom Trail

City Unlocks Key Component for Future Monon South Freedom Trail

At today’s New Albany Redevelopment Commission meeting, the board voted unanimously to pursue the acquisition of the New Albany Golf Course property, located at 1706 Graybrook Lane.

The City of New Albany is currently constructing Phase 1 of the Monon South Freedom Trail, which will ultimately span nearly 63 miles from New Albany to Mitchell, Indiana. Phase 1 ends just outside the current New Albany Golf Course, making the property a critical connection point for future trail development. Phase 2 of construction will extend the trail toward the Clark-Floyd county line.

In recent years, several developers have expressed interest in the golf course property for large-scale, multi-family residential projects. By moving to acquire the property, the City of New Albany is not only working towards the long-term preservation of this important community asset but also unlocking new opportunities to expand and enhance the Monon South Freedom Trail for future generations.

“The timing could not be better!” said Mayor Jeff Gahan. “Our ongoing commitment to Health and Fitness is bringing new connections and opportunities to be outdoors: on the Greenway, on the Shoreline, and now on the Monon South Freedom Trail!”

HARVEST HOMECOMING PRESENTS UPDATED FESTIVAL PLAN TO CITY

HARVEST HOMECOMING PRESENTS UPDATED FESTIVAL PLAN TO CITY

This morning, following a series of planning meetings with Mayor Jeff Gahan, Police Chief Todd Bailey, and other City of New Albany officials, Harvest Homecoming organizers presented their updated plans for this year’s festival to the Board of Public Works and Safety.

Harvest Homecoming, now over 50 years old, is widely recognized as the third largest festival in the state of Indiana, behind only the Indianapolis 500 and the Indiana State Fair.

The Board of Public Works and Safety is responsible for approving festival permits, and regulations require permits to be submitted 60 days prior to an event. Harvest Homecoming has submitted permits for similar events as previous years, but a plan for the Fiesta Rides has not been submitted as of this time.

During the presentation, the Harvest Homecoming Board President shared highlights of this year’s updated safety protocols, revised hours of operation, and a wide range of exciting events and attractions. Key updates include:

✅ Revised Festival Hours (1 hour earlier closing time on Friday/Saturday) 

✅ New Security Fencing for improved crowd control and safety

✅ Enhanced Lighting Plan to keep downtown well-lit into the evening 

✅ Expanded Family-Friendly Programming with appropriate marketing

✅ Marketing the festival as family friendly and weapons-free 

✅ New Police Security Camera System for increased safety

✅ Enhanced Law Enforcement Presence throughout the festival footprint 

Mayor Gahan commended the work of festival organizers and city departments to improve safety at this year’s festival, stating:

“I appreciate the effort that has gone into the revised plan. As always, we are proud to host Harvest Homecoming in downtown New Albany.”

Police Chief Todd Bailey echoed the mayor’s comments, adding his support for the updated safety approach. 

The City of New Albany remains committed to partnering with Harvest Homecoming volunteers to ensure a safe and successful event for all who attend.

Monon South Freedom Trail - Construction Begins!

Construction Begins on Monon South Freedom Trail in New Albany

Mayor Jeff Gahan is proud to announce that construction of the Monon South Freedom Trail will officially begin on Friday, August 1. This milestone marks the start of a bold new chapter in regional connectivity, recreation, and historic preservation. 

The project is part of the larger Monon South Trail, a 68-mile multi-use corridor that will eventually extend from New Albany north to Mitchell, Indiana.

Phase 1 of the Monon South Freedom Trail will begin at the Ohio River Greenway, travel through Downtown New Albany, and continue north just past Fairview Cemetery. Future phases will expand the trail to the Floyd County line, linking with the broader regional Monon South trail network.

Named in honor of the corridor’s ties to the Underground Railroad, the Monon South Freedom Trail blends history with modern investment in healthy, accessible recreation and infrastructure. 

“This is a milestone moment for our city,” said Mayor Jeff Gahan. “The Monon South Freedom Trail will connect generations… past, present, and future… and provide lasting benefits for our residents, businesses, and visitors.”

Key benefits of the Monon South Freedom Trail include:

🏃 New recreational opportunities for walkers, runners, cyclists, and families

🚴 Safe, scenic alternatives for local travel and commuting

🌳 Connectivity to a 68-mile regional trail system

💵 Economic impact through tourism, local spending, and property value growth

🛤️ Historic preservation of a path once used in the pursuit of freedom

Construction crews will begin mobilizing August 1 along the Phase 1 corridor. Residents are encouraged to follow project updates and construction progress photos at: newalbanycityhall.com/msft

The Monon South Freedom Trail is funded in part through Indiana’s Next Level Trails initiative and the READI program, in partnership with Radius Indiana and other regional agencies.