Quality of Life is an examination of influences upon the goodness and meaning in life, as well as people's happiness and well-being. From our perspective, the ultimate goal of quality of life is to enable people to live quality lives -- lives that are both meaningful and enjoyed.
Quality of life can have a different meaning to different people. The quality of life issues we looked at included issues affecting the social as well as the physical nature of the community, i.e. seniors, youth, community image, volunteerism.
Community services are very important to help a community serve its citizens providing health and safety as well as providing for a higher quality of living. Having adequate community facilities is also important to a community for economic reasons as well. An overview of facilities and services can be found in this chapter.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Schools
New Palestine is served by the Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County. There is one high school (New Palestine); one middle school (Doe Creek); and three elementary schools (Brandywine, New Palestine, Sugar Creek). The school corporation has one other school building (former middle school) that can be used for future expansion.
School district enrollment, as shown in the table below, has been steady for the past few years. The graduation rate has been above that of the state average rate.
2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
Total Enrollment | 3,250 | 3,269 | 3,283 | 3,354 | 3,455 |
The community is close to numerous colleges and universities including major state universities and numerous smaller private colleges and universities including Franklin College, Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community Colleges, Earlham College, and Indianapolis area schools of higher learning.
Library
New Palestine is served by the Hancock County Public Library system. New Palestine is fortunate to house the only branch location which was opened in 1999. The only other location is the central library in Greenfield.
Town Hall
The New Palestine Town Hall is located in the heart of the old downtown. In addition to housing the offices of general government, it also houses the New Palestine Police Department and the Chamber of Commerce.
Police Department
The New Palestine Police Department serves the town and is staffed by four full time officers and five reserve officers. The department's main office is located in the town hall building.
Fire Department
New Palestine is served by the Sugar Creek Township Fire Department. The Sugar Creek Township Fire Department traces its beginnings to the Philadelphia Volunteer Fire Department and the New Palestine Volunteer Fire Department (organized in 1896). In 1997, while the two organizations maintained their respective names, the department was renamed Sugar Creek Township with two (2) stations. In 2004 Fire Station 41 was closed and replaced by Fire Station 45, a new state of the art facility housing the Sugar Creek Township Trustee, Fire Department Headquarters, and equipment and personnel from Station 41. The Department is a full service, combination fire department, serving 14,920 customers over a 36 square mile area contiguous to the City of Indianapolis, that responds to 1,200 calls per year with a $4.1 million budget, from 2 fire stations with 18 motorized vehicles and 2 trailers (2 Engines, 1 Quint, 1 Engine/Tender, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Technical Rescue, 1 Grass Truck, 3 ALS Ambulances, 7 staff/utility vehicles, 1 ATV/EMS Cart, 1 Fire Safety Training Trailer, and 1 utility trailer).
A total of 50 personnel - 31 full-time sworn personnel (27 on 24/48 staffing and 4 daytime administrative positions) and 19 volunteer/paid-on-call personnel, responding to fire, emergency medical, technical rescue, hazardous material, and extrication from entrapment incidents. One part-time administrative assistant, 1 part-time life safety educator, and 3 part-time firefighter/paramedics provide additional support.
The Department's primary response area is Sugar Creek Township including the incorporated towns of New Palestine and Spring Lake. Additionally, we provide mutual aid to Buck Creek Township, Fountaintown, City of Greenfield, City of Indianapolis, Moral Township and the Town of Morristown.
ISO Rating:
4 - Inside New Palestine town limits
5 - Unincorporated Sugar Creek Township within 1000' of a fire hydrant
9 - All other unincorporated in Sugar Creek Township
Parks
The Town has no parks of their own. Sugar Creek Township has an 88 acre park to the west of New Palestine. The park contains:
- 2 picnic shelters
- Playground equipment
- Soccer fields
- 9 hole Frisbee Golf course
- 2 mile Walking Trail
- Fitness Trail
Senior/Youth
Hancock County Senior Services is a community-based, not-for-profit agency serving the elderly and disabled in Hancock County of Indiana. They offer a senior center in nearby Greenfield and transportation through Hancock Area Rural Transit (HART).
Boys and Girls Club of Hancock County is a non-profit organization overseen by a volunteer board of directors and directed by a paid professional staff of two and a part-time staff of twelve. Locations are the Jim Andrews Unit (Greenfield) and the Eastern Hancock Extension at the Elementary School.
All programs and activities are developed to give youth positive outcomes in the areas of academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.
Health/Wellness Facilities
The residents of New Palestine are close to several major hospital facilities. Hancock Regional Hospital is located in Greenfield (12 miles), Community East in Indianapolis (12 miles), St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis (15 miles), IU/Methodist/Riley Children's Hospitals in Indianapolis (17 miles). Hancock Regional also offers a wellness center which is a certified physical fitness and education center located in Greenfield.
There are two doctor's offices, four dentist practices, one chiropractor, one veterinary and one eye specialist in the New Palestine area. Many others are located within the metro area.
COMMUNITY CHARACTER
Terms like rural, neighborhood, village and urban character are used to community character, but some are unsure of what people mean by character. What do people mean by character?
The Webster Dictionary defines it as "a distinctive trait, quality or attribute," something's "essential quality or nature," and "reputation." But, what attributes produce the essential quality of a place? According to Roland Warren, various criteria, "thought to characterize communities include a specific population living within a specific geographic area, amongst whom there are present shared institutions and values and significant social interaction." The emphasis is on people, their institutions and their interrelationships.
Community Organizations
Not-for-Profit
American Legion Post 182
A wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.
New Palestine Lions Club
The New Palestine Lions Clubs plans and participates in a wide variety of service projects that meet the international goals of Lions Clubs International serving the needs of their local community.
They also offer a community center and park which is open for public use.
Religious Institutions
New Palestine has 13 churches representing several denominations to serve its public. Many of them have ongoing social programs which aid the needy in the community.
Museums
The New Palestine Main Street organization established the New Palestine Museum and shares space in the old post office building. It is a repository for the history of the community and holds fundraising events throughout the year to support its continued efforts memorializing the heritage of New Palestine.
Community Events
Festivals
The New Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce is responsible for most of the events in the community. The organization is the lead in the largest festival which is the New Palestine Chamber Fest which includes booths, music, a car show, parade and fireworks. They also sponsor the Dragon Dash which is a 5k Run/Walk race.
The Lion's Club sponsors the annual Fall Festival which includes a fish fry, booths, games, music and a parade.
QUALITY OF LIFE POLICY
Goal:
Maintain a vibrant community for all citizens so they will work towards much higher levels of economic productivity, educational and cultural attainment, and quality of life so as to encourage greater civic pride.
Objectives:
• Reinvent the historic Main Street corridor as a focal point of the community.
• Protect existing historic structures.
• Enhance gateway points into the community.
• Review current Town ordinances and update if necessary and determine the need for new ordinances.
• Enhance communication/cooperation between major community groups providing communication portal for services and events.
• Enhance leadership/volunteerism in community.
• Preserve the small town character of the Town.
• Maintain and improve on current community events.
• Foster community activities for youth and senior populations.
• Encourage recreational activities promoting health and well being.
PUBLIC WORKS
Communities cannot grow or at best even function without quality infrastructure often known as public works. The operation of municipal public works is crucial to a community's health and safety as well as the continuing improvement in the quality of life. Such things as water systems, sanitation or waste water treatment facilities, snow removal, etc. - all are within the domain of public works and all essential to the well-being of our communities. These infrastructure assets are at their best when they are operated, monitored, maintained, and improved by public works professionals. Public works departments play an important role in the management of these assets and thereby extend their benefit to the public and prolong their useful life.
Sewer
The Town operates a 0.230 million gallon per day (MGD) Class II extended aeration activated sludge treatment facility that was installed in the 1970's and the last upgrade to the WWTP was made in 2003. The Town's wastewater collection system consists of 100% separated sewers by design with no overflow or bypass points. Most sewers are constructed of VCP that were installed in the early 1970's. There are over 10 miles of sewers ranging in size from 8 to 12 inches in diameter. The wastewater collection system contains eight (8) lift stations that assist in transporting flows to and through the treatment plant.
Currently New Palestine is extending wastewater collection west of County Road 600 W. This extension provides an avenue to extend services even farther west. The Town currently has an SRF project planned with a recent PER submittal. This project is intended to provide an efficiency increase within the collection system while making process improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
Stormwater
Like many towns in Indiana, stormwater systems are often an afterthought and a combination of different methods and constructed systems. The current system in New Palestine is controlled through a network of undersized pipes, catch basins and inlets; overland flow; detention ponds and wetland areas. It has been identified that there are no environmentally sensitive areas or areas where public safety is an issue.
The Town's Stormwater Quality Plan was initiated in 2005 and recently updated in 2015. This Plan identifies the future needs for stormwater control and water quality improvements.
The Town of New Palestine is currently in the midst of establishing a Storm Water Utility. It is anticipated that formation along with rate establishment will be completed within the next month. While no specific projects have been anticipated, the revenue generated will offset some of the ongoing costs which have been absorbed by the wastewater utility.
Stormwater System Map
Water
New Palestine does not own its own water service, but instead has Citizens Energy Group operates and maintains the water system. This has been in operating since the 1980's.
Other
Gas Service
New Palestine is served by Vectren for its gas services.
Electric Service
New Palestine is served by Duke Energy and Rush/Shelby Energy for its electric services.
Internet Service
New Palestine citizens are served by several different providers and by several different mediums. There are five major providers for residential service; Xfinity (cable), AT&T and On-Ramp Indiana (DSL), NineStar and Lightbound (fiber). Business service is provided by; Comcast Business (cable), AT&T and On-Ramp Indiana (DSL/fiber), NineStar (fiber). There are seven other providers through mobile or satellite.
COMMUNITY SERVICES POLICY
Goal:
To improve and maintain the infrastructure and services in a way that enhances community pride, provides a tool for managing growth, and ensures the well being of the community.
Objectives:
• Continue collaboration with the school corporation to capitalize upon the educational resources within New Palestine.
• Identify the need for future community utility upgrades and ensure the maintenance of existing facilities.
• Develop system of trails/paths for walking/bicycling.
• Encourage the development of a 24 hour health care clinic.
• Establish representation/communication with the Sugar Creek Twp Park Board.
• Continue to expand community policing and its presence in the community.
• Continue to work with the Sugar Creek Twp. Fire Department to ensure future infrastructure and staffing funding.