The Chesterton Branding Leadership Corporation (CBLC) is pleased to announce the designation of the new Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District.

Chesterton Town Council unanimously passed a resolution on Monday September 22, 2025 to designate and name the new arts and cultural district that encompasses the creative and artistic businesses, fine dining, retail, and parks in Chesterton’s thriving historic downtown. The Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District also overlaps an existing federally recognized historic district.

After a lengthy five-month community engagement process whereby Chesterton citizens and enthusiasts named approximately 140 cultural, historic, artistic, and meaningful assets throughout the community, a specific boundaried district was proposed that includes 57% of those named assets. The Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District extends from Grant Street to Indiana Avenue running north and south, and from Calumet Avenue to 5th Street running east and west incorporating both sides of the boundary streets.

“The district designation champions Chesterton’s already thriving arts and cultural scene and historic charm and recognizes the unique density our many artistic and creative businesses that make our community so unique and welcoming, “ says Rebecca Riley-Vargas, owner of Three Moons Fiberworks and CBLC President. “We are grateful for the opportunity to develop our own district with grant funding via Creative Convergence.”

The Creative Convergence initiative was created by the Indiana Arts Commission, in partnership with the Indiana Communities Institute at Ball State University’s Miller College of Business, specifically to energize the intersection of the cultural and the municipal. Chesterton’s team is comprised of Chesterton Art Center Executive Director Hannah Hammond-Hagman; Jayde McAloon, owner of Pieces of Jayde; Rebecca Riley-Vargas, owner of Three Moons Fiberworks; and, representing the Town of Chesterton, Public Affairs Liaison Kevin Nevers.

All four serve on the Board of Directors of the Chesterton Branding Leadership Corporation, an independent 501c3 organization whose mission is to create and support a vibrant and thriving historic Downtown Chesterton community.

“We are grateful for the support of the community and the Town of Chesterton in the establishment of the Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District,” says Hannah Hammond-Hagman, Chesterton Art Center Executive Director. “This district will ignite our sense of place and community spirit and may inspire further investment in our growing community, and we are excited to work with an artist to build visibility for the project in the coming months.”

The next steps for the district include a Request for Proposals for an artist to design and fabricate special markers or sculptures to be installed throughout the district space to visually designate and beautify the district space for an artist fee of $7,000. Those pieces will be installed in Spring 2026 followed by a community-wide celebration.

For more information and to view the Request for Proposals, visit www.visitchesterton.org.