Mayor Pete Land and the City of Crown Point are pleased to announce the inaugural New Year’s Eve Ball Drop to be held Dec. 31 in the historic downtown.
"We are going to be the first City in south Lake County to host a ball drop. It will be on the east side of the square, and we are in the process of designing the ball we will drop,” Land said. “On New Year’s Eve, come early to support our local businesses and stick around for the ball drop on our beautiful downtown square.”
Land made the announcement during his Wednesday evening State of the City Address at Bulldog Park, where he also provided updates on City projects over the past year.
In 2023, the City of Crown Point received a $2.81 million grant from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation to help fund the revitalization of Sauerman Woods Park. Work has been ongoing since late 2022, with phase two of the project, “well underway,” Land noted Wednesday.
"It’s a destination location. Bring your families and enjoy,” Land said. “It’s also a time to take a walk around the pond and reflect on World War I and World War II, with a Lake County component. I am very excited, and I can’t wait for this project to be complete.”
The stormwater improvement project will address long-standing flooding issues on the southeast side of the city by upgrading stormwater capacity and improving drainage.
Work began in partnership with the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, which contributed $2.6 million toward the improvements.
Over the past year, Mayor Land and city staff have worked on designing the new amenities at the park, including an all-inclusive playground, six sand volleyball courts, six pickleball courts, two piers overlooking the lake, a large open-air, covered pavilion and a 9-foot-wide, half-mile illuminated walking path around the lake, which will feature memorial chapters designed by the Friends of the Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The City anticipates wrapping up the project in late 2024. When the park reopens, the primary entrance will be located off U.S. 231. A pedestrian entrance will remain along South Street.
The $2.81 million grant from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation also includes the construction of a new skatepark on the Sportsplex campus. A request to seek proposals for the new skate park was approved at the May 15 Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. Land expects the City will have bids back this summer, with work to break ground before the fall.
The project will replace the current wooden skate park located on the north side of the Crown Point Sportsplex at 1313 E. North St. The park was built in 2000 and has undergone maintenance improvements in recent years.
“We’ve been trying for several years to build a new skate park, and we’re finally able to do it,” Land said.
The new concrete skate park was designed by Hunger Skateparks based in Bloomington, Indiana, guided by feedback from local skaters. Once complete, the 12,000-square-foot park will be located on the south side of the Sportsplex, near the Sparta Dome.
Land also announced the City will host the National Softball Association Fastpitch World Series at the Sportsplex in July and the World Wiffle Ball Championship at the Sportsplex in August.
In August, the City also will host the Cal Ripken World Series in partnership with Crown Point Cal Ripken. The international tournament will return to Crown Point in 2026, 2027 and 2028, Land said.