Foundation announces Riverfront Reimagined

The Community Foundation of Huntington County is thrilled to announce its most significant project yet – a transformational riverfront that will create spaces for community connection and recreation for generations to come. In December 2024, the Community Foundation announced it had received a GIFT VIII Community Leadership Implementation Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

At the time, it was shared that the funding would help bring the City of Huntington’s Downtown Master Plan to life. Now, the Foundation is excited to share conceptual renderings of a new public gathering space adjacent to the Little River at the downtown intersection of East State and Warren Streets.

This project reflects a direct response to community feedback gathered during the City’s Downtown Master Planning process. Across workshops, surveys, mobile displays, steering committee meetings and online engagement, one theme continued to show up: Huntington has a natural asset in the Little River and the community desired more opportunities to gather, connect, recreate and enjoy public spaces along its banks.

“This project highlights the importance of community engagement,” said Matt Ditzler, Community Foundation executive director. “The ideas residents shared during the Downtown Master Plan process directly influenced the strength of the grant proposal, the final project selection and the design priorities now moving forward.”

Initial designs imagine a welcoming public space that connects downtown Huntington to the Little River. Planned features include riverfront overlooks, community seating, flexible green space, a pedestrian promenade, riverbank stabilization, public restrooms and spaces designed for future recreation and programming. Together, these elements will create a place for community events, outings with family and friends, quiet moments near the water and a new way to experience Huntington’s downtown.

This redevelopment effort reflects the work of many people and organizations including residents who shared their ideas, City leaders who invested in long term planning, community partners who helped shape the vision and Lilly Endowment Inc. whose support made implementation possible. The Community Foundation is honored to help bring these partners together and move a shared community vision forward.

The work ahead will include continued design, coordination, permitting and construction planning with hopes to start construction in early 2027. As the project moves forward, the Community Foundation will continue to provide updates and invites the community to follow along as this vision becomes reality.

Looking ahead, financial support from generous donors can accelerate future park phases, including a boardwalk, walking trail and kayak launch. Those interested in helping bring these future phases to life are encouraged to contact the Community Foundation team.

For more information on the riverfront redevelopment, check out the Riverfront Reimagined Q&A Blog here. For more information on the Community Foundation, visit www.huntingtonccf.org.