Community leaders in Perry County have been busy this year supporting quality-of-life projects to entertain current residents and attract new neighbors.
The Tell City Sports Complex, consisting of four new baseball and softball fields, was dedicated at Hagedorn Park in June. Mayor Chris Cail said the new facility offers a vibrant space for sports and recreation.
“The sports complex represents our commitment to investing in and enhancing the quality of life for our residents, families and our children, while boosting tourism, economic growth and fostering community connections for years to come,” he said on Facebook.
Also in June, the Tell City Regional Arts Association proposed building a new community arts center at the corner of 12th and Tell streets. Colleen Reed, director of operations, said she’s received positive feedback about the project from the community.
“People are excited it’s not going to be another car wash or gas station,” she said. “There are lots of kids who don’t play sports. We need an outlet for those creative kids.”
In addition, Perry County was among six nationwide communities designated as one of America’s Most Welcoming Places by Indianapolis-based MakeMyMove this year. Erin Emerson, president and CEO of Perry County Development Corp., said the organization is seeing the fruits of its labor after launching a new website and the Pick Perry campaign nearly a decade ago.
“Being named one of the most welcoming communities felt like, ‘Okay, what we have done intentionally since 2016 is working, and that we are seeing results from that.’ And it has all been very intentional in terms of marketing and branding,” she said.
Tell City Sports Complex
The Tell City Sports Complex replaced baseball and softball fields that relied on good weather for game days. Stephen Parker, Tell City Parks and Recreation director, said if it rained or even sprinkled, play had to be postponed or canceled.
“Now we have four top-of-the-line fields, where, if it rains, we’re going to play that day. If not, we will be playing early the next day. We’ve had over an inch of rain, and we played later that day,” he said. “We’re in a floodplain in that area. So everything is made to drain away from the fields for better play.”
Cash Waggner & Associates provided engineering, survey and inspection/project management for the complex. Parker said the new facility has attracted tournament directors and pumped money into the local economy. The complex has hosted several tournaments since opening this year, compared to hosting just a few tournaments over the past decade.
“At one tournament, I got a headcount from the director that there were 1,200 people at one time in our facility. So whenever they leave or stay in our hotels, they fill up our restaurants, they fill up our shopping centers,” said Parker.
To pay for the facility, which cost more than $3 million, the city of Tell City contributed $1.5 million in bond funds, $515,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and $480,000 in Economic Development Income Tax funds. The project also received $600,000 in READI funds and more than $200,000 from the Perry County Community Foundation and private donors. However, Parker said there’s still work to be done.
“We are looking forward to starting our next phase, which will involve adding more fields, a playground, shelters and shade structures. We are currently still looking for sponsors,” he said.
Proposed community arts center
Tell City Regional Arts, formerly located in the Swiss Plywood building, currently resides in a suite on 11th Street near the proposed location for the arts center. Reed said a lack of room restricts the organization’s activities.
“We lost our theater, and we lost the opportunity to do more music events. We had been hosting regular coffeehouses and stuff like that, and now we cannot. We’re limited on space with our new property, so we are looking to expand,” she said.
Gallery space and rental offices are features of the proposed arts center, as well as a pottery studio, painting classroom, outdoor patio and black box theater.
“That brings back our theater camps. That brings back our plays. You have the opportunity to rent out that black box theater as well. People could host a wedding. People could host a pop-up poetry event. It opens up the possibility for more local, free events in Perry County,” said Reed.
Reed plans to finance the estimated $2 million project through a combination of investment, loans and government support. A fundraising campaign is underway online to raise $50,000 by Sept. 30. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority will match the amount if the goal is met.
“I would like to have the lot purchased at the very least by the end of the year, if that’s possible. We’re looking at roughly needing $250,000 to secure the grounds. So that is something that we’re actively applying for through READI and that we will actively be funding through crowdsourcing,” Reed said.
One of ‘America’s Most Welcoming Places’
Projects like the sports complex and arts center align with the Pick Perry initiative to draw more people into the community. Emerson said the county’s participation in the MakeMyMove program to attract remote workers to the area has also proven to be an asset.
“Since we launched the program in January 2023, we have welcomed 18 new households (40 new residents). The average household income is $99,000, the new annual tax revenue is $140,000 and the annual economic output is over $800,000,” she said. “We just launched our fourth contract with MakeMyMove, and we can’t wait to keep welcoming new neighbors.”
Shiraz Mukarram, marketing and special initiatives manager at PCDC, said being recognized as one of America’s Most Welcoming Places by MakeMy Move is a validation for the region.
“I feel like it’s a testament to something that we’ve always known—that we have a genuinely kind and supportive and neighborly community. I’ve seen this firsthand when I moved here, and I see this every single time through every mover’s eyes,” he said in a news release.
Emerson said that while engaging remote workers is beneficial, she’s also looking at ways to address other occupational opportunities in the area.
“I’m hoping that [the MakeMyMove] program will continue to evolve and let us do more strategic recruitment in terms of filling voids in our community, like essential amenities or professional services that we’re lacking. I’m looking forward to continuing to explore how we incentivize people with those skills or those businesses or professions to come to our community,” she said.
Tell City was also the recipient of a $350,000 Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs in December. Jenny Matheis, housing administrator at the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission, said work has begun on the first group of homes.
The second cohort is out for bid until Sept. 2, and the final group will be bid in the fall. Qualified projects include roof repairs and replacements, HVAC and electrical system upgrades, water heater installations and ADA accessibility improvements.