Madison mayor frames 2026 as an "execution year," prioritizing housing, parks and infrastructure

MADISON, Ind. — Mayor Bob Courtney told a downtown audience that 2026 will be an "execution year" for Madison, emphasizing housing, parks and infrastructure while highlighting public-safety partnerships and recovery programs.

Courtney opened the State of the City by saying Madison is "on the move," listing recent honors and local achievements and noting that the city has translated long-standing ideas into construction and programs visible across town. "We finished 12 of them," he said of 15 major planning initiatives launched last year, adding that the unified development ordinance and an updated personnel handbook remain to be completed by the end of the quarter.

Why it matters: The mayor framed housing, infrastructure and placemaking as pillars that will shape the city's ability to attract and retain residents and investment. Courtney said the administration has focused on both affordability and preservation, citing partnerships such as a Habitat for Humanity subdivision and a large downtown infill strategy.

On housing, Courtney highlighted Sunrise Crossing, described in his remarks as a $55 million development that repurposes a formerly blighted area for housing, retail and jobs. He said the city will dedicate $1 million through its PACE program in 2026 and has applied to an owner-occupied rehab grant from OCCR that, if awarded, would add another $1 million, with about two-thirds targeted to low- and moderate-income households.

Public safety was presented as the foundation for growth. Courtney said police and fire together handle "over 13,000 calls a year" and praised interagency response involving dispatch, the sheriff's office, state police and DNR. He linked nuisance and blight enforcement, sidewalk and ADA work, and crosswalk improvements to broader safety goals.

Parks and riverfront development were a central portion of the speech. The mayor credited restoration of Crystal Beach and other projects for boosting tourism and recreation; he said the city invested about $15 million in parks between 2021 and 2025 and outlined ongoing projects at Welch Park, Bicentennial Park and Kiwanis Park. Courtney also said the riverfront drew roughly 2.5 million visits last year and described a connector trail that will link Main Street to Clifty Falls State Park.

Courtney highlighted infrastructure work, including a recently completed $13 million water utility project that upgraded equipment and fire protection. He said the reconstruction of Main Street (from Anorville to Jefferson Street) represents a multiyear, roughly $25 million investment.

On criminal justice and recovery, Courtney described the Jefferson County Jail Chemical Addiction Program (JCAP), which he said began in 2019 and recently celebrated its first graduates. "We're giving people a second chance," he said, crediting local prosecutors, the sheriff and service providers for partnering on the program.

Courtney also noted recent federal grant support for stormwater mitigation along the Wall Street corridor, saying a congressional office announced a $1 million grant that will help bring $2.5 million in resilience funding to that corridor. He closed by saying the city has attracted hundreds of millions in public and private investment in recent years and has created more than 1,100 jobs over the past five years.

Courtney invited attendees to continue conversations after the program; several city and regional officials were listed among guests and partners during the evening.

Sources: Remarks by Mayor Bob Courtney during the State of the City address, event introductions and program notes.