Decatur County Community Garden to collaborate with IU program

Fifteen rural Indiana organizations will collaborate with Indiana University for the 2026 Rural Placemaking Studio, working alongside IU faculty and students to enhance their communities through creative design and public art projects.

Launched in 2024, the Rural Placemaking Studio is a collaborative initiative of the IU ServeDesign Center at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and the IU Center for Rural Engagement. The studio partners with rural Indiana communities to design vibrant, welcoming and sustainable public spaces that celebrate local identity and strengthen community connections through art.

IU students majoring in comprehensive design and graphic design will work directly with local partners under the leadership of Jon Racek, program director of comprehensive design at the Eskenazi School and director of the ServeDesign Center, and with support from the Center for Rural Engagement team.

“Over the last three summers, the Rural Placemaking Studio has connected Eskenazi School students with people throughout south-central Indiana,” said Peg Faimon, founding dean of the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design. “These partnerships are transformative for the students, communities and leaders, and they result in impactful, beautiful and educational projects that enhance civic pride. The RPS is at the center of our strategic goal to engage our community, state and beyond.”

This year’s community‑identified concepts include public art installations, interpretive signage, parklets, plaza designs, trail enhancements, and early‑stage architectural concepts for historic buildings and community hubs. The studio will guide each project from vision to action, shaping a clear scope of work and producing implementation‑ready designs aligned with each partner’s needs and timeline.

“The Rural Placemaking Studio helps communities bring their ideas to life in ways that increase connection and local vibrancy,” said Kyla Cox Deckard, Center for Rural Engagement interim executive director. “Rural Indiana’s beautiful, historic landscapes provide inspiration for thoughtful and welcoming designs, and Rural Placemaking Studio projects continue to deepen partnerships between communities and Indiana University that extend beyond the design experience.”

The Rural Placemaking Studio invites proposals from rural communities with populations under 50,000 and located within roughly a 90‑mile radius of Bloomington.

Since its launch, the Rural Placemaking Studio has collaborated with 25 rural Indiana organizations in 19 counties to develop 30 community-guided placemaking projects. Recent projects have included a Main Street makeover in Shoals and renewal projects in downtown Washington, Indiana. The studio is supported in part by HWC Engineering, a multidisciplinary firm serving public and private clients across Indiana with expertise in economic development, planning, landscape architecture, water resources, transportation and land development.

Decatur County Community Garden: Enhancements will be designed to expand the community garden, including shaded areas, raised beds and signage.

A future call for proposals is planned for late 2026. More information about the Rural Placemaking Studio and upcoming events is available on the Center for Rural Engagement website.