By Ann Craig-Cinnamon
There’s a lot going on this summer in Fishers and that includes construction and this week’s kickoff of the Fishers Summer Concert Series at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater. If you are one of the thousands of people planning on attending, you should know that parking will be a bit different this year because of the development projects going on in the downtown area.
Tony Elliot, the Director of the Dept. of Parks and Recreation, says the number of total parking spaces will be similar to last year but they will be located in some new areas.
“For example, new lots located east of the rail tracks will provide more than 200 new parking spaces for the Town’s largest events, we will have Nickel Plate District parking signage to help drivers navigate toward those new lots. Specifically, for the Tuesday Summer Concert Series we also have some new options. We are partnering with Al Huda Foundation to allow for vehicle parking north of downtown and also with local volunteer groups to operate a pedal-and-park service for residents wanting to ride their bikes to events,” he said.
In addition the Fishers Library will offer additional parking areas for Tuesday night concerts. Accessible parking spots will still be located closest to the amphitheater in both the Launch Fishers lot and municipal lots. You’ll see Dept. of Public Works staff out directing and managing parking within the Municipal Complex on concert nights.
For more info on events and parking go to the Town’s website and the Nickel Plate District mobile app.
Some of the construction that you’ll be seeing will be of downtown side streets. Director of Engineering Jeff Hill says Maple Street will be closed down for 50 to 60 days beginning the middle of June for reconstruction.
“We have been communicating with business owners on Maple Street to ensure they have access once the road is closed. We’ve been working with them to maintain access to existing alleys and will coordinate for deliveries, etc.,” he said.
Additionally, the new extension of Fishers Corner Boulevard will begin soon. Hill says that some tree removal has already begun, and building demolition is anticipated to begin this week.
“We expect some of the new road construction to begin in the second full week of June, around the middle of the month. Because this is a new road, there should be very little disruption to existing traffic patterns, but there will be some restrictions on Lantern Road and Municipal Drive when the tie-ins are necessary,” he said.
Work on the rail line should be in June and July in advance of the fair train with the entire project wrapping up at the end of September, Hill said.
