Labor Day Launch Celebrates Major Milestones in Downtown Upland

Local youth participate in the groundbreaking for the Upland Public Library

Upland, Indiana marked a major milestone in its downtown revitalization journey with a two-part event held on Sunday, August 31: Labor Day Launch: A New Chapter in Downtown Upland. The celebration recognized the future growth of two key local organizations and the broader transformation following the adoption of the 2015 Town Master Plan and the momentum of the Main Street Mile Initiative, which began in 2024.

Festivities began with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Upland Public Library, which is growing into what was formerly the shared Town Hall & Library Building. The expansion will more than double the library’s current space to better serve the community's needs.

“The Upland Public Library is eager to continue serving our dedicated patrons through this expansion and renovation,” said Ashley Tiberi, President of the Library’s Board of Trustees. “We’ll have more space for reading, play, and learning, and we’ll have expanded room to grow our collection. We’re grateful to our patrons for making the library such a vibrant place in the Upland community.”

The updated library is set to include study and meeting rooms, quiet reading spaces, a community room, an expanded children’s area, and an outdoor reading and gathering space.

Concept renderings of the expanded and renovated Upland Public Library

NearSpace Education also held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly completed headquarters at 33 North Main Street. They serve as a local nonprofit focused on space-centric programming and youth educational camps. As the organization continues to grow, the new space will enable it to better engage with current students and expand its reach, welcoming more youth to experience its signature “space camp” programming.

The community celebration continued with the annual Street Fest on Main Street, featuring live music, food trucks, bounce houses, yard games, and local vendors. The event drew families and residents of all ages in a vibrant show of local pride and energy.

Labor Day marked the beginning of two exciting chapters in Upland’s future, as larger revitalization efforts are continuing in collaboration with the Main Street Mile Initiative, which includes over $100 million in planned investment for the town.