Release Date: March 6, 2026
CHARLESTOWN, Ind. – Construction is underway to create Charlestown Commons, a vibrant community space and performance pavilion at the Charlestown City Square.
Located at Short Street, Charlestown Commons is a redevelopment project that will feature an inviting greenspace, showcasing the heart of Charlestown. Amenities will include a parklet, covered stage, storage space, shade trees, modern seating designs, planters, and an accessible switchback ramp off Water Street.
Since 2021, the city square area has seen great improvements, including replaced/repaired sidewalks on Main, Main Cross, Water, Harrison, and High Streets to improve connectivity. A fresh design to the city square resulted in flowerbeds and established sidewalk accessibility to the gazebo.
“The Commons event lawn and stage is another investment into the revitalization of our downtown business corridor,” said Mayor Treva Hodges. “The City Square is the heart of our community, and whether they come to toss a football after school, visit our Saturday Pop Up Market and Sing-a-long, or to celebrate with us during our Founders Day event, I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to provide a new space for people to gather. These are the spaces that make Charlestown feel like home.”
In 2024, the City of Charlestown was selected to participate in the Indiana University’s Rural Placemaking Studio to design a parklet on Short Street as a welcome point to the square. Utilizing community input and hearing from stakeholders, the final design elements are special to Charlestown. The sawtooth roof design of buildings that once stood at the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant provided inspiration for the concrete decorative designs that will be in Charlestown colors of blue and black. A wave-like design of the pergola is a nod to the revitalization of Charlestown, a reminder of a community in transition from pre-IAAP to post-IAAP.
After a successful Patronicity crowd-sourcing campaign in 2025 that raised $112,985 ($50,000 was a match from the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority), the Charlestown Redevelopment Commission purchased the property between Market Street and the Post Office. With the design of the parklet, city leaders began the design of the Charlestown Commons.
“The feedback from our community through the Patronicity campaign was that they wanted to see this project happen,” said Brian Smith, Director of Communications who led the campaign. “When the old YMCA building came for sale, it was a tremendous opportunity to take our City Square to another level. This will be a highly visible place to gather and provides great proximity to local businesses.”
The aim is to strengthen business opportunities and provide quality of place for residents and visitors. The City Square is a hub of activity throughout the year, led by the popular Charlestown Christmas City displays that draw 60,000 visitors each year. Monthly car shows take place on the square, along with the growing Saturdays on the Square Pop-Up Market from May to September. Once the Charlestown Commons is open, Music in the Park events, the market, and the Founders Week Festival will move to utilize the space. Charlestown Commons also provides expansion opportunities for Charlestown Christmas City with views of the tree in Greenway Park.
“From a programming standpoint, I couldn’t be more thrilled about this new space,” said Parks Director Carrie Basham. “This will be more inviting for our Music in the Parks events and our team is already exploring ideas for Christmas. By having a permanent stage in Charlestown, this eliminates renting portable stages for larger events.”
Construction began in late January with a target completion of early summer, in time for a debut at the Founders Week Festival (June 13-20). The festival will feature a drone show and a headlining performance by national recording artist J.D. Shelburne.
One of the enhanced features will be a back-lit “Charlestown” sign on the retaining wall facing Market Street to increase branding and visibility. The LED colors can be changed throughout the year. There will be a 15-foot wide accessible sidewalk to the stage area too. Potential future commercial development between the post office and the sidewalk is a long-term plan.
Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group designed the space while Heritage Engineering and Mac Construction will construct Charlestown Commons.