RICHMOND, Ind. — Next summer, the roads won't be the only things having a little work done in downtown Richmond.
A handful of businesses will get a new look as well, thanks to the city's facade project through the Stellar Communities program

Just a little more than a year ago, ground was broken to transform a parking lot into a downtown park.
About eight months later, Jack Elstro Plaza opened to the community at 47 N. Sixth St.
In January, the plaza played host to the city's annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival, and many more activities are being planned for the park once warmer weather arrives, including the weekly farmer's market.

City officials will host a meeting Wednesday to unveil a design for the proposed Seventh Street Park created from public input sessions held in April.

Richmond’s first Stellar Communities project is up and running.

The launch of Center City Public WiFi was celebrated with pizza and root beer floats Wednesday. About 55 people attended, including representatives of downtown high-tech and retail businesses, economic development offices and city government.

The Richmond Board of Public Works and Safety this week hired an Indianapolis firm to begin work on another Stellar Communities project in the city.