Winona To Receive IACT AwardWINONA LAKE - Winona Lake will receive a community achievement award in October for its greenway art work.
The Winona Lake Greenway Art Commission implemented an installation of 11 public art sites along the Heritage Trail greenway in Winona Lake.The art pieces of sculpture represent attributes of Winona Lake's heritage including kindness, generosity, community, peace, gathering, beauty, legacy, respect, virtue, love and liberty.
Indiana Association of Cities and Towns officials will present Winona Lake officials the award during its annual conference Oct. 4-7 at French Lick Resort Hotel.
IACT is a non-profit, unincorporated association owned by the cities and towns of Indiana. Its purpose is to improve municipal government and promote the general welfare of Indiana cities and towns. It advocates for municipalities and promotes good government through education, training and leadership.
Approximately 1,500 public officials, including Indiana mayors, clerk-treasurers, council members and supervisors will attend the conference.
There were 21 cities and towns who applied to receive the Community Achievement Award. Other award winners for the achievement award were Shipshewana, Fishers and Vincennes.
Winona Lake previously received a community achievement award in 2001 for its improvements to buildings and roads in the town.
IACT officials were in Winona Lake Wednesday afternoon filming footage of the town's art work along the greenway trail and interviewing town officials.
The footage will be shown during IACT's annual conference.
Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer and IACT committee member Retha Hicks, Winona Lake Town Councilwoman Joy Lohse, and Craig Allebach, town coordinator, were interviewed Wednesday by Jennifer Simmons, IACT associate executive director for communication and policy.
Simmons said by installing the artwork along the greenway, the town is saying to its residents and visitors that the town cares about arts and culture being in its environment.
Hicks said it is an honor to receive the award.
"We are privileged to have the artists' expertise and donors' support," Hicks said.
Hicks sent in an application the beginning of August for the town to qualify to receive the award, and the town was notified in mid-August that the town won.
Brent Wilcoxson, managing director for the Village At Winona, said the town is pleased to have received the award.
"It is a huge honor to be recognized and is a unique project," Wilcoxson said.
