Land Announces Bike Trail Expansion, Lauds Local Businesses During State of the City

Photo courtesy of the City of Crown Point

Mayor Pete Land announced the City is expanding its bike trail system at Thursday evening’s State of the City Address. 

The Gold Star Family Memorial Trail will follow the old railroad bed from Iowa Street west under Interstate 65 to 109th Place, connecting cyclists and pedestrians to the City’s Broadway corridor and existing trail system. 

The City will pay tribute to Gold Star Families along the expansion in collaboration with American Legion Post 20, Land said. 

“Hopefully by this time next year, that’s going to be up and operational,” he said of the expansion. 

Land also announced the City is transforming the landscaping surrounding the M-4 Sherman Tank at Main and Goldsborough streets. 

“It’s a gateway into the City and its such important recognition for our veterans of World War II and veterans of foreign wars,” Land said, noting each plant carries a deeper meaning connected to the U.S. Armed Forces. 

Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply designed the landscaping, with TBR Lawn Care & Landscape, Inc., working with the City on the installation. 

Local philanthropist Don Burrell received this year’s Community Impact Award, honoring his commitment to compassion in Crown Point and Northwest Indiana. 

Burrell founded Burrell Imaging, which he operated for 57 years. During this tenure, he employed more than 1,000 people nationwide. 

He served as the co-founder and benefactor for St. Jude House in Crown Point, opening the family violence prevention center to support survivors of domestic violence in 1995. Burrell also was the driving force behind the creation of the Burrell Cancer Center at Franciscan Health Crown Point. 

“You know you have made a tremendous impact to the community when you have a street named after you and you have an award named after you,” Land said. 

Land and the City honored D&L Wood Products Owner Bob Ligda with the Excellence in Business/Development award, which recognizes an outstanding commitment to development in Crown Point.

Ligda opened D&L Wood Products in 1992, transforming the former McLaughlin Golf Ball Company into a custom architectural millwork shop. Today, D&L fulfills custom orders across the country. You can see the company’s work at Purdue University; Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana; Wintrust Arena; and many White Lodging JW Marriott hotels across the country. He also was tasked with creating a Masters Trophy case for the late Arnold Palmer. 

Land also recognized five Crown Point businesses that have been in business for 40-plus years in 2026, including Balemaster (East Chicago Machine and Tool); In-Pact; Main Street Cafe; Tech Credit Union; and Wilson Iron Works. 

Two Crown Point Community School Corp. students — Kaitlin Flewelling and Aiden Hielema — also received recognition and a $500 scholarship from the City and the Crown Point Community Foundation for their dedication to serving the community. The Crown Point Community School Corp. requires students to have 40 hours of community service to graduate. Flewelling had 254 hours, and Hielema had 226 hours.