Read about our 2022 highlights
Indy Parks is celebrating a year filled with community partnerships, park investments, and a renewed commitment to helping our city’s parks thrive. Starting with Mayor Joe Hogsett’s Circle City Forward initiative, $45 million is infusing much-needed transformations into Frederick Douglass Park, Grassy Creek Regional Park, Krannert Park, and Riverside Regional Park. More funding is coming to 28 parks with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $16.5 million to completely renovate 26 playgrounds.
2022 Highlights
- Frederick Douglass Park New Family Center: With $20 million in Circle City Forward funds, the park’s new family center will feature two full-sized basketball courts, a walking track, multi-purpose community rooms, and more. View photos from the groundbreaking ceremony here. View updated renderings here.
- Grassy Creek Regional Park Nature Center: Plans are in the works now for several improvements at Grassy Creek Regional Park. Using $7 million in Circle City Forward funding, a new event and nature center will be built along with new picnic areas, playground, and boardwalk over the Grassy Creek Wetland. View renderings here.
- Krannert Park Renovated Family Center and Year-Round Pool: Through Circle City Forward funding, renovations to the existing family center are underway and will include new exercise areas, multi-purpose rooms, locker rooms, and new year-round indoor pool. View the initial plans and see renderings of the new space here .
- Riverside Regional Park Promenade: Construction is now underway for the Riverside Promenade, a unique cultural pedestrian corridor that will run the length of Riverside Regional Park and feature engaging historical signage to highlight significant Riverside events and individuals throughout the trail.
- Safe Summer and Sports of All Sorts: In partnership with the Office
of Public Health and Safety, Indianapolis youth had the opportunity to learn skills in aquatics, track & field, and lacrosse from highly trained leaders in each sport for Sports of All Sorts. Safe Summer programs were held each Friday night at Riverside, Washington, and Garfield Parks filled with food, fun, and education. - Rev. Charles R. Williams Park Renovation: Construction is starting at Charles R. Williams Park and will include a new playground, splash pad, performance shelter, and trail with a connection to the Monon.
- Eagle Creek Park celebrates 50th Anniversary: Celebrations for Eagle Creek Park’s 50th Anniversary took place on June 10, 2022. Throughout the year, staff have encouraged park visitors to participate in special activities in honor of the milestone. View celebration photos here .
- Frank Young Park celebrates 100th Anniversary: On October 15, 2022, in partnership with the newly created Friends of Frank Young Park advisory group, a community celebration was held with park neighbors, elected officials, and local organizations to honor the 100th Anniversary of Frank Young Park, which is located at 1000 Udell Street.
- Willard Park Skatepark: In partnership with the Department of Metropolitan Development, Indy Parks unveiled Willard Park Skatepark, which is the first skatepark to be built in Indianapolis in more than 20 years. The 13,000-square-foot skatepark features granite blocks from the old City-County Building’s plaza and artistic concrete forms to create jumps, grinding, and trick skating opportunities.
- AES Day in Parks project at Washington Park: For their 12th annual AES Day in the Parks, AES volunteers transformed Washington Park Family Center with new building furniture, painting, landscaping and clean-up projects, and the creation of five new murals in tribute to the park once serving as the Indianapolis Zoo.
- Confluence: An Exhibition of Stone Sculptures at Garfield Park: In collaboration with Kuaba Gallery and Dominic Benhura Studios, Indy Parks presented Confluence: An Exhibition of Stone Sculptures. Artist Dominic Benhura from Zimbabwe showcased his uniquely beautiful stone sculptures throughout the Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Garden.
- Citizen Energy Group’s Sharing the Dream project at Watkins Park: Watkins Park received a $100,000 facelift from Citizen’s Energy Group’s Sharing the Dream project. This project featured a new outdoor ramp, LED lighting, new paint throughout the family center, audio-visual equipment, a newly designed reception area in a previous storage space, and more.
- APRA Playground Investment and Renovations: Community open houses began in the fall and will continue early next year for APRA playground renovations at Bluff Park, Brookside Memorial Grove, Brookside Park, Centennial & Groff Park, Christina Oaks Park, Clayton & LaSalle Park, Denver Park, Forest Manor Park, Frank Young Park, Gateway West Park, Graham Edward Martin Park, Gustafson Park, John Ed Park, Lentz Park, McCarty Triangle Park, Municipal Gardens, Orange Park, Oscar Charleston Park, Porter Park, Pride Park, Ringgold Park, Ross Claypool Park, Sexson Park, Stacy Park, Washington Park, Watkins Park, and Willard Park.
In January, Indy Parks will host grand opening events for Broad Ripple Park’s new family center. And throughout the new year, the parks department will continue to build upon its renovation and investment efforts around the city.
