FRANKFORT, Ind. — The Eyes of Freedom exhibit is a traveling memorial dedicated to the 23 fallen heroes of the Columbus, Ohio based Lima Company who were killed during a fateful 2005 deployment in Iraq.
The Eyes of Freedom exhibit and TPA park activities will anchor this year’s Fourth of July activities in Frankfort, as city officials continue a broader push to boost community engagement and economic development.
Kimberly Black, Frankfort’s community development director, said the “Eyes of Freedom” exhibit will be open July 2–5 at Prairie Creek Park’s Encompass Event Center, offering residents and visitors a chance to honor veterans while participating in a week of local events.
“We have tried … the last year or two to figure out how to bring it to Clinton County and to Frankfort, and this year being the 250th, I was like this is a great opportunity,” Black said during a June 22 appearance on WILO and Boone 102.7 FM’s Party Line program.
Weeklong celebration planned
The Eyes of Freedom exhibit will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Organizers are seeking volunteers for setup on July 1 and teardown on July 6.
The exhibit is part of a broader slate of events leading up to Independence Day, including Main Street’s Thursday Thunder, a community movie night, and the annual Fourth of July celebration at TPA Park.
Black said the holiday draws large crowds and provides measurable economic benefits.
“I love when the weather’s nice because that means people are going to be in Frankfort,” she said. “They’re hopefully shopping at our stores or eating at our restaurants. … Even pumping your gas in Frankfort helps our local economy grow.”
Black added that TPA Park’s size—about 88 acres of green space—sets the city apart and serves as a key asset in attracting visitors and improving quality of life.
Summer events build community
Beyond the holiday, the city continues to expand its lineup of free public events, including block parties and the summer concert series at Prairie Creek Park. Black said the neighborhood block parties, organized by the parks department, are designed to bring residents together across the city. The Frankfort Board of Works on June 22 approved Wednesday, July 8th for the rescheduled Block Party at Dorner Park. Board of Works also approved the closure of Clay Street in the Park area during the Block Party.
“It’s a great opportunity to highlight our park system and then just bring people together,” she said. “We encourage anyone across Frankfort or Clinton County to come and enjoy.”
The summer concert series continues Friday evenings with live music and food trucks. Performances begin at 6:30 p.m. and are free to attend.
Business growth and planning efforts
Black also pointed to ongoing changes in Frankfort’s downtown, with new businesses opening and others evolving. “There’s a lot of movement in the downtown district,” she said. “Over the next couple weeks you’ll see some businesses shifting and changing and bringing in new ideas.”
She highlighted the importance of a new comprehensive plan now in development, which will guide future growth based on community input rather than solely city leadership priorities. “It’s not necessarily what I want or what this administration wants … but what this community would like to see Frankfort look like,” Black said.
Public meetings and engagement opportunities are expected as part of that process, alongside continued work on infrastructure and a “Safer Streets for All” initiative.
Supporting local economy, youth engagement
Black emphasized that attracting new amenities—such as entertainment venues often requested by residents—depends on local support for existing businesses.
“We can have these things … but we as consumers, we as residents, we as community members have to support those things,” she said. The city is also investing in youth-focused initiatives, including its “lemonade stand squad,” which encourages young entrepreneurs. Plans are underway to expand those efforts into youth-oriented markets next year.
“Being able to champion their entrepreneurship and their new innovative ideas—it’s a fun idea,” Black said.
As summer progresses, city officials say the combination of events, business development, and long-term planning reflects a coordinated effort to strengthen Frankfort’s economy and community identity.
