NexusPark Tenants Voice Concerns Over Slow Foot Traffic,Lack of Events
Columbus,IN - concerns are mounting among tenants at NexusPark,the enterprising health and recreation facility converted from a former shopping mall,regarding a lack of foot traffic and event programming. The issues were brought to light during last month’s city council meeting, with one business owner publicly questioning the pace of development at the multi-million dollar complex.Mark Hajduk, co-owner of Mother Bear’s Pizza, told the council that his business has seen virtually no customers sence the fieldhouse opened in March 2024. He expressed frustration that, despite meaningful investment from both the city and Columbus Regional Health (CRH), the facility hasn’t yet generated the anticipated economic activity for it’s tenants.
“Where’s our voice? Where’s our venue?” Hajduk asked, emphasizing the ample investment his business has made in the community and the NexusPark project itself. He noted that onyl one other business has opened within the facility in the two-plus years since his initial walkthrough.
Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon acknowledged the concerns, stating that the city is actively addressing them. She explained that the loss of a major contract last year impacted event bookings, but assured the public that more events are now being scheduled.”We always knew it would be a three-to-five-year window before we would be fully activated,” Ferdon said in a recent interview on IPM’s Ask the Mayor program (listen here: https://www.ipm.org/show/ask-the-mayor/2025-09-03/columbus-mayor-ferdon-on-redistricting-nexuspark-animal-shelter).
The city is also taking steps to improve the visitor experience,having recently added over 100 parking spaces and implementing new traffic flow strategies for larger events.
NexusPark represents a significant investment in the Columbus community, aiming to provide a centralized location for health, recreation, and retail.However, the current situation highlights the challenges of transitioning a large-scale redevelopment project and the importance of consistent event programming to attract visitors and support local businesses.
Keywords: NexusPark, columbus Indiana, Mary Ferdon, Mother Bear’s Pizza, event programming, local business, redevelopment, Columbus Regional Health, CRH, city council, economic development.
