In June, the Crystal Beach Aquatic Park project earned two major honors—one celebrating its design excellence and another recognizing its historic preservation.

Earlier in the month, Spear Aquatics, a key contractor on the project, was awarded the 2025 Gold Award for Large Commercial Projects by the United Aqua Group Awards of Distinction. Brian Spear, who has worked on Crystal Beach since the early 1990s, shared the exciting news at a City Council meeting. He spoke about the personal significance of the project and praised the City’s commitment to honoring the pool’s WPA-era history throughout the redesign.

Later in June, the City of Madison was named the 2024 recipient of the Dorothy Inglis Reindollar Historic Preservation Award by Historic Madison, Inc. at its Annual Preservation Gala, held at the Shrewsbury-Windle House. The award recognized the City’s outstanding rehabilitation of the Crystal Beach Pool and Bathhouse.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition for the Crystal Beach Aquatic Park restoration,” said Mayor Bob Courtney. “It celebrates our community’s dedication to preserving Madison’s rich history while enhancing spaces that serve both our residents and visitors.”

Thanks to the vision and dedication of our City team, community partners, and contractors like Spear Aquatics, Crystal Beach remains a vibrant, cherished destination that will continue to serve Madison for generations to come.

Last month, several new businesses opened their doors in downtown Madison, continuing the momentum of growth and revitalization throughout our community.

Nikimura, a sushi and ramen restaurant, is now serving at the corner of West and Main, expanding downtown’s dining options with fresh, modern cuisine. Love Betty Bridal has opened inside the historic Fountain Building, offering a boutique bridal experience in the heart of historic Madison. Pin-Up Bake Shop, located at Mill and Main, brings nostalgic charm with its bakery and snack bar concept. And K. Sullivan Art and Home, located at 133 E. Main Street, showcases locally inspired art and home décor that enhances Madison’s creative spirit.

As Mayor Bob Courtney says, “Madison is on the move.” With continued investment and new businesses choosing to call Madison home, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

Ribbon cutting photos were taken by the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce. The home decor photo was taken by the Madison Main Street Program.

SUPPORTING OUR LIBRARY

Last month, we joined the Jefferson County Public Library for their annual Touch-a-Truck event, the official kickoff to the Summer Reading Program!

Our street department, Madison Police, and several of our fire stations brought out their vehicles for kids to explore, climb on, and enjoy. It was a fun and interactive way to help families connect with the people and equipment that keep our city running. Mayor Bob Courtney also stopped by to join in the excitement and handed out a few Crystal Beach day passes to some lucky young readers.

Events like this are a great reminder of the power of literacy and the important role libraries play in creating curious, connected, and resilient communities. Thank you to the Jefferson County Public Library – Madison and Hanover for inviting us to be part of such a meaningful day!

HONORING OUR RIVER HERITAGE



In June, Mayor Bob Courtney and Deputy Mayor Tony Steinhardt joined Dominic Grote, Debra Kelley, and John Grote to accept a new weather vane for the gazebo at Lamplighter Park.

The weather vane, generously donated by Grote Industries, is a version similar to the original, which has been missing for nearly 15 years. Featuring a riverboat design, the new piece pays tribute to Madison's river heritage.

The project was originally started by the late Rodney Kelley, whose craftsmanship and vision helped bring the design to life. After Rodney became ill and passed away, his colleague and close friend Ed Ricketts completed the work — a meaningful tribute to both Rodney's legacy and their friendship.

WELCOME MAYORS



Last month, we had the honor of welcoming mayors from across the region to Madison for the Southeastern Indiana Mayors Roundtable, hosted by Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM). The meeting took place at the Picker House, located within the Historic Eagle Cotton Mill - Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites in Madison, providing a beautiful setting for thoughtful conversation and collaboration.

These roundtables are held regularly in cities across the state, offering a unique opportunity for local leaders to connect, share challenges and successes, and learn from one another.



We're grateful to AIM for organizing these gatherings and proud to have hosted this month's roundtable here in Madison. It's always encouraging to see leaders come together to discuss how we can strengthen our cities, respond to new policy developments, such as changes to the tax structure, and work toward a better future for Southeastern Indiana.

HONORING FREEDOM DAY

On June 19, we recognized Freedom Day—a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the end of slavery. General Order No. 3 declared: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

That announcement marked the beginning of the first Juneteenth celebrations—a tradition that continues today.

Over the weekend, Mayor Bob Courtney joined Sue Livers and many others in our community for the Freedom Day 5K and Fun Walk. During the event, the Mayor issued a proclamation encouraging all Madisonians to recognize and honor this important day in our shared history.

In June, we took time to recognize three officers for their extraordinary bravery during a tragic and severe incident that occurred on April 25th. That night, our community experienced an isolated act of violence that resulted in the heartbreaking loss of a life. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victim, whose lives were forever changed by that day.

When officers arrived on the scene, three individuals were still barricaded behind closed doors, with the suspect actively attempting to reach them. Patrolman Andrew Gibbs of the Madison Police Department, along with Deputy Cameron Napier and Sergeant Devlin McMindes of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, responded with exceptional courage and an unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives.

Without hesitation and fully aware of the danger, they acted with tactical skill, clear judgment, and fearless resolve. They successfully took the suspect into custody—preventing further loss of life—and safely secured the scene.

We were proud to present Patrolman Gibbs, Deputy Napier, and Sergeant McMindes with the Life-Saving Award in recognition of their service on that tragic day.

Fly in or drive in on August 9, 2025, to the Madison Regional Airport for an unforgettable day celebrating the best of cars, planes, and community! The inaugural Madison Wings and Wheels promises a thrilling showcase of classic cars, modern marvels, and stunning aircraft, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of our hometown airport located at 3919 W. Ims Lane in Madison.

YOUTH BALL SEASON COMES TO AN END

Our youth baseball, softball, and t-ball season officially ended. This year, 250 kids participated across 12 teams: 6 T-ball, two each of 8U baseball and 10U softball, and one each of 8U softball and 10U baseball. Each team played 8–12 games, with all players getting plenty of time on the field.

It's been a long time since Rucker Sports Complex was packed with 100+ fans cheering from the stands. Our baseball and softball teams competed both at home and away against neighboring communities like Trimble, Ripley, Switzerland, and Jac-Cen-Del, providing a great traveling experience for the kids. T-ball teams played each other locally, building skills, making memories, and entertaining the crowd with plenty of laughs.

Thank you to our Youth Baseball & Softball League Director, Mike Watson, our dedicated coaches, Parks and Recreation team members, and all who contributed to a great season. We're proud of our young athletes and can't wait for next year!

SUMMER CAMPS BRING ENERGY, FUN AND NEW SKILLS

Summer camps were a great success this month! We hosted cheer, pickleball, and dance camps, along with Junior Golf Clinics, continuing through July at Sunrise Golf Course.

Thank you to Carla Krebs and Charlie Ferguson for introducing our youth to pickleball; Olivia Davis for leading our cheerleaders; Mia Mires for inspiring our young dancers; and Roger Gallatin, our Sunrise Golf Pro, for building both golf skills and confidence.

We're already excited for next year's camps filled with learning, growth, and fun memories!

CRYSTAL BEACH PACKED WITH PROGRAMS

It's been a busy and exciting month at Crystal Beach! Our water fitness programs—including water aerobics, lazy river resistance walking, and deep water jogging—along with swim lessons for kids, have helped build confidence in guests of all ages.

June also marked the launch of our new Junior Lifeguarding program, designed for youth ages 11–14 to prepare them for the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification Course.

For details on pool hours, rates, water programs, and more, visit our website at madison-in.gov/crystalbeach.

TACKLE FOOTBALL REGISTRATION OPEN

If your child is interested in playing tackle football this fall, there's still time to register! This year's program is divided into three divisions: Freshman (Grades 1–2), Junior Varsity (Grades 3–4), and Varsity (Grades 5–6).

For more information and to sign up, visit madison-in.gov/youthprogramming. The registration deadline is August 8—don't wait!