Council OKs intergovernmental agreement to support New Albany-Plain JPD field house

The New Albany City Council on Dec. 3 approved a memorandum of understanding with Plain Township and the New Albany-Plain Joint Parks District (JPD) to advance a multipurpose field house and community center on city-owned land north of Walnut Street.

JPD representative Ollie explained that voters approved a bond and levy in November 2022 to pay for the facility and that the city, Plain Township and the JPD are coordinating to amend water and sanitary sewer service-area boundaries so the unannexed parcel can connect to public utilities and then be annexed into the city. Ollie said the memorandum memorializes commitments including city construction of a roundabout at Walnut and Bivelheimer Road and extension of water and sanitary sewer to the field house. "This memorandum of understanding memorializes the commitments of Plain Township, the JPD, and the city in order to expeditiously advance the final design, permitting, and construction of the facility," Ollie said.

Staff told council the project's infrastructure work is included in the 2025 capital improvement budget. Council adopted Resolution R56-20-24 (6-0). The Joint Parks report during the meeting noted an anticipated March 2025 ground-breaking and a possible early-2026 opening depending on permitting and weather; staff will return with design and permitting updates as the project advances.

The action commits the city to infrastructure work and advances the JPD's plans to expand community programming in the new facility.