The Newly Renovated Neighborhood Park was Jointly Funded by Indy Parks and the Department of Metropolitan Development
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Mayor Joe Hogsett, City-County Councilor Keith Graves, Indy Parks, and the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) highlighted the completion of new amenities at Doris Cowherd Park on the city’s northeast side. The $800,000 project is one of more than 40 Indy Parks receiving new amenities in 2026 and was jointly funded by Indy Parks and DMD as part of the city’s focus on placemaking and revitalizing neighborhoods. The park now features a new playground, paved trail, and a multiuse lawn space for soccer and other sports.
“The transformation of neighborhood parks on the northeast side represents the City’s commitment to enhancing the well-being and quality of life for our neighbors,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Investments from the City along with the generous support of our philanthropic partners are making a monumental difference in the way neighbors experience green and recreational spaces across Indianapolis.”
The introduced 2027 Indy Parks Budget includes a 20% increase to the department’s facility maintenance budget. Those increases will in part go towards preserving and maintaining new amenities at the more than 60 parks that benefitted from over $150 million in investments over the last few years. The fall fiscal proposal introduced alongside the city budget also includes $2.1 million for Indy Parks playground and court improvements along with new safety cameras.
“As the City-County Councilor for District 9, I’m committed to making sure our neighborhoods have parks we can be proud of. I’ve worked hard to advocate for investment in parks throughout our community, and Doris Cowherd and Dubarry Parks are the latest examples of that commitment,” said City-County Councilor Keith Graves. “These are places for our children to play, our families to gather, and our neighbors to enjoy. These parks belong to all of us, and I’m proud to see continued investment in spaces that bring our community together.”
Residents on the northeast side can also enjoy improvements like a new splash pad at Dubarry Park which was completed earlier this year, and a new playground at Virginia Lee O’Brien Park which is expected to open this fall. A full list of ongoing and upcoming park improvements can be found here.
“Indy Parks continues to leverage our budget, grants, and partnerships to transform our cherished public spaces like Doris Cowherd Park,” said Indy Parks Director Brittany Crone. “By improving these spaces and investing in their maintenance, we’re putting the city budget to work for residents across the city.”
Doris Cowherd Park is one of 83 small neighborhood parks in the Indy Parks system. With projects wrapping up this year, nearly half of all neighborhood parks will have received improvements including new playgrounds, trails, hardcourts, splash pads, and more since 2023.
“Parks and public spaces shape communities, fostering unplanned interactions and connections. Every opportunity to invest in, revitalize, or open a space like the Doris Cowherd Park benefits the community and the city. It’s a winning combination.” said Iris Dillon, DMD Administrator for Programming and Public Use.
Pictures from the event can be found here.
