The College Democrats brought Jeff Gahan, the mayor of New Albany, to campus on Monday to showcase what democrats are doing locally.

Gahan said he wants to do things that are geared to the public and he wants to improve the quality life of youth. There are different projects the mayor is working on in New Albany to compete with other surround cities.

12 Week Concert Series

This event is on Spring and Pearl Street in downtown New Albany and it is evenings filled with music. Gahan said this is a way to attract more people to the downtown area and brings economic growth to the city. Also, he said young people love music so this is just the right thing for them to be involved in. He said it ends in time to give people enough time to get a bite to eat in the different restaurants located in downtown New Albany including a French restaurant.

“It is the best music you will hear and it brings culture young people can enjoy,” Gahan said.

Aquatic Center

Gahan said all of the competing cities including Jeffersonville and Clarksville have an aquatic center, but New Albany does not. This will be an outdoor water facility. He said it will include a pool, a lazy river, slides and workout lanes. He said everyone from toddlers to older adults will be able to enjoy this pool. He said hopefully it will be opened by next summer.

“This should be the best one in the area,” Gahan said.

Industrial Site

Gahan said the city bought 17 to 18 acres of an industrial site off Silver Street and tore everything down and cleaned up the site. He said they wanted to redevelop the site. He said they plan on putting a park in its place. There will be a 50 yard by 50 yard turf surface under a roof. This area will be devoted to baseball and softball practice for the middle and high schools and private citizens in the area. Also, there will be batting cages, a walking track, a skateboard park, a splash pad, and a youth football and soccer practice space.

“This gives kids the opportunity to get out and enjoy what was a run down industrial waste site and will encourage people to get out and exercise,” Gahan said.

Ohio River Greenway

He said the city of New Albany has already spent millions of dollars on the Ohio River Greenway which is the walking path along the river. He said our river front is more completed than the one in Jeffersonville or Clarksville, but they plan on building more to it. Gahan said they are starting another segment which will start at 18th Street that will cost $600,000.

“It is a huge benefit to give people access to the river because it gets them outside and they can connect to the river,” Gahan said.

Renovation Project

This will run on East Main Street in front of Culberston Mansion or Mansion Row. He said there are a lot of homes there that are fabulous and there are recognized sites to be preserved. This area is 50 feet wide which is hard for pedestrians to walk along so the city has adopted a walkable plan for downtown. There will be narrow roads, improved sidewalks and drains, historical markers, new lighting and accents to designate it as Mansion Row. This project should be completed by the end of the year.

“Put the politics aside, we are responsible to have an efficient city government,” Gahan said.