As the fastest-growing city in Indiana and the sixth-fastest-growing city in the country, Westfield Mayor Scott Willis and his administration have significant development and infrastructure improvements on the horizon to help secure Westfield’s continued growth and success.
“2026 is going to be a year with major change,” Mayor Willis says.
“For many years, we didn’t keep up with the growth, especially on the infrastructure side,” adds Mayor Willis, acknowledging that his biggest challenge heading into the new year will be catching up to ensure infrastructure improvements can sustain the city’s rapid growth while continuing to invest economically in Westfield’s future. “It’s a three-headed monster that we’re navigating, and that certainly will remain a challenge in 2026.”
Westfield is working to address these challenges, and in 2026 the city will put several initiatives into action, including new road improvement projects, downtown revitalization efforts, parks and trail system upgrades, continued economic development across the city, and expansion around Grand Park, including Ed Carpenter Racing constructing its new race headquarters.
“The challenge for me is always how you keep up with the growth, how you invest in the future of the city, and how you do it while keeping taxes low and putting as much money back into taxpayers’ pockets as possible,” Mayor Willis says. “That’s a challenge that never goes away for a mayor, but it gets compounded when you see the kind of growth we have in Westfield.”
In 2026, Westfield will also improve public safety with the opening of Fire Station 84, which will include a public museum, along with construction beginning on Station 85 and the new Westfield Police Department headquarters near Grand Park, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
A major focus for the city is creating walkability and establishing a true downtown district. Next year, three major projects will be underway, including the mixed-use developments The Grand on Main and the Park and Poplar redevelopment, along with a streetscape project on Park Street that will help lay the foundation for a vibrant downtown.
“I want downtown Westfield to be a gathering area for our residents,” Mayor Willis adds. “That’s the missing link in Westfield in my mind right now. We have wonderful schools and great neighborhoods, but we don’t really have a downtown area. I’m hoping that once it’s all said and done, we have a place where you can park your car, walk around downtown, shop, eat, be entertained and enjoy what downtown has to offer.”
Grand Park remains a major tourism driver for Westfield, and creating an entertainment district around the facility is a key priority.
“Grand Park has real peaks and valleys of usage, and our goal is to level that out by attracting more restaurants and family entertainment,” Willis says. “Most of our residents have kids at Grand Park on the weekends, and we want to provide eating, shopping and entertainment options between games. We’re expecting a couple of mixed-use projects coming from Keystone that will create a starting point for development inside Grand Park.”
The new year will also bring major improvements to Grand Park, including relocating Championship Field to make room for an entertainment district and beginning construction on a new parking garage to replace surface parking near the Event Center.
Mayor Willis is also hoping to add a winter component to Grand Park by constructing a multi-sheet ice complex for hockey, curling and figure skating.
“Our hope is that next year we will approve and kick off a project to add that winter tourism component to Grand Park,” Mayor Willis says. “If it’s on ice and it’s a winter sport, we want Grand Park to offer it.”
The administration is also exploring new events and park improvements to enhance community connection and quality of life.
“We understand that a central part of community is gathering and having opportunities for people to connect and feel like they’re part of something beyond their home and neighborhood,” Mayor Willis says. “We want to create exciting opportunities for people to get together, celebrate and interact with their neighbors.”
In 2026, Westfield will expand its park and trail system by enhancing existing trails and adding amenities at Freedom Park and Simon Moon Park.
“We’ll be improving some existing trails and adding new ones,” Mayor Willis says. “Now that the golf cart ordinance has been approved, we’re looking to connect some dead ends in our trail system to expand walkability for golf carts, bikes and other modes of transportation.”
Park improvements planned for the new year include a permanent restroom facility and eight pickleball courts at Freedom Park. Phase two of Simon Moon Park is expected to conclude next spring or summer with the completion of an outdoor pavilion and a new playground.
Under Mayor Willis’ leadership, Westfield has much to look forward to in the year ahead. With significant activity planned downtown and around Grand Park, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of promise and prosperity for the city.
