As Indy Parks explores opportunities to enhance and evaluate future park development, Indy Parks partners with residents, neighborhood groups, and other stakeholders to create park master plans to guide improvements. Several master plans that are currently being implemented are below.
Rev. Charles R. Williams Park Master Plan
A beloved part of the near north side community, Rev. Charles R. Williams Park was named for the Indianapolis leader in 2015. Indy Parks has been working with residents, community leaders, and others to determine what is most needed in this park. The park’s Master Plan was completed in 2015, and it calls for a new playground, a spray ground, a performance shelter, and a trail with a connection to the Monon to be built in the park. On September 23, 2022, we broke ground and renovations are underway!
Frederick Douglass Park
The Frederick Douglass Park Master Plan was completed in 2012 and envisioned a new family center that could accommodate more amenities and programming. As part of Mayor Hogsett’s Circle City Forward Initiative, Frederick Douglass Park received $20 million for the new family center. The park’s new family center will include fitness areas and locker rooms, a new gym, and plenty of office and program activity space. A groundbreaking to celebrate the beginning of construction was held on October 13, 2022. An additional $5.2 million in funding from the Lilly Endowment will also contribute to the new family center, as well as a new playground and sports fields improvements. The new family center officially opened on May 24, 2024!
Riverside Regional Park
Completed in 2017, the Riverside Regional Park Master Plan identifies several opportunities to add new amenities and update the existing features of the park to better serve neighbors and community members. The Circle City Forward has set aside $11 million for updates at Riverside Park. These updates include the first phase of improvements in Riverside Adventure Park and the construction of the Riverside Promenade. The promenade construction is currently underway, and we celebrated by hosting a groundbreaking on September 10, 2022!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
On January 16, 2023, Indy Parks and Mayor Hogsett announced a $5 million investment in the Kennedy-King Memorial Site. The project will be celebrated as the Kennedy-King Commemorative Site and will soon feature additional improvements near 19th Street down the center of the park toward the existing Landmark for Peace Memorial. New amenities will include a celebration and event plaza, eternal flame artwork and interpretative panels, new pavilion area along the walkways, expanded parking, new walkways and seating areas, and a connection to the new pedestrian pathway (along North Park Avenue).
