The idea of a spruced-up alley in downtown Warsaw surfaced four years ago with a charette prepared by Ball State University architecture students.

It was brought to life this year by a Ball State graduate, assistant city planner Justin Taylor.

Months after its completion, the city on Wednesday celebrated the “activation” of the alley south of city hall and two businesses with a ribbon cutting.

The $100,000 project was dependent on local donations and a matching grant from the state and did not rely directly on city tax dollars.

Mayor Joe Thallemer, who called the work a unique project in a unique community with a very unique type of funding, pointed the spotlight during his speech on Taylor, whom he called the architect of the project

Taylor, a 33-year-old native of Warsaw, was hired by the city a year ago after he spent about seven years working on high-end residential landscaping and providing design elements for a handful of parks projects in the greater Chicago area.

Alley enhancements have become a trend as communities rethink how to use areas that are often under-utilized and dingy.

Taylor jumped at the chance to be involved.

“I love to design stuff,” Taylor said after Wednesday’s celebration. “Obviously, there’s tons of other projects I work on. Permits and paperwork, but this is definitely a fun part of my job. I really enjoyed it.”

The alley stretches west from South Buffalo and features a colorful inlay pattern in the asphalt, planters, chairs and tables, a long row of encased artwork highlighted by  lights and all topped off with several bright blue sun shades anchored above.

Oak and Alley, an adjacent restaurant and bar, had been a longtime supporter of the concept and melded its own outdoor eating area to match with the city project. Another business, Three Crowns Cafe, is next door.

Adding to Wednesday’s atmosphere was the sound of a jazz horn and the offer of free ice cream.

Taylor, addressing a crowd gathered in the alley, credited the many talented contractors and supporters for their effort.

He said his favorite part of the alley is the encased artwork that lines the alley and can be changed to highlight other local artists. The Warsaw Public Arts Commission was in charge of that aspect.

“Having something like an arts walk is another step in their program of bringing more art to the city,” Taylor said.

The choice of the alley made sense, he said, because the city often has food trucks parked in the adjacent city hall parking lot during festivals. The alley now provides a place to sit and eat, he said.

Officials say using the space as a public gathering spot helps boost the downtown’s quality of life.

State and local officials celebrated the support  the project enjoyed.

The improvements came together after a crowdfunding effort generated $58,000 and was used to gain a $50,000 match through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

More than 140 groups and individuals provided financial contributions.

Jacob Sipe, executive director of the agency, said the state is more willing to support projects when they see a strong local commitment.

He also addressed the notion of enhancing an alley – something that never crossed the minds of city planners years ago.

“It sounds simple and some people may think that it’s kind of odd, but actually, it’s really cool. It brings people together, it creates quality of life,” Sipe said.

Also attending the event were representatives of the Indiana lieutenant governor’s office and U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, who spent much of his day in Warsaw and Winona Lake.

“When you see improvements like these, they are a testament to the mayor’s leadership and also the leadership of the community that wants to move forward,” Banks said. “There is so much Washington, D.C., could learn from that, by the way.”