The $6.8 million project uplifted and expanded the Landmark for Peace memorial at the historic park
INDIANÁPOLIS – Today, Mayor Joe Hogsett, Indy Parks, and community partners unveiled the new MLK Gateway section of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The $6.8 million city funded project includes a new plaza, walkways, landscaping, and expansion of the existing Landmark for Peace memorial at the park.
“One of our city’s most important monuments stands larger and grander than ever thanks to the reimagined Landmark for Peace memorial,” said Mayor Hogsett. “The City is proud to invest into this place of national significance. Not only does it honor the memories of two great American heroes, but it will also remind future generations of the invaluable legacy that they left behind.”
The opening comes a day before the 58th anniversary of Robert Kennedy’s speech in Indianapolis, when he announced the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. The speech was widely credited with helping keep the calm in the city that night, when many other cities across the country saw outbreaks of violence. Kennedy was assassinated only two months later, further connecting the two men’s legacies. The Landmark for Peace memorial was dedicated in 1995 by local, state and national leaders, including former President Bill Clinton and members of the Kennedy and King families.
“Parks are essential for many reasons and one of those reasons is that they showcase our city’s history, people, and communities,” said Indy Parks Director Brittany Crone. “This project ensures that this park now fully showcases a critical part of our history.”
The project includes a new plaza with information about Dr. King, Senator Kennedy, the civil rights movement, and other information from the existing Kennedy King Park Center indoor display. The park is now fully open to the public, with final landscaping and signage work to be completed in the coming weeks.
To learn more about the park and its history, visit kennedykingindy.org. The Kennedy King Memorial Initiative will host a 58th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony at the park on Saturday, April 4, from 12pm to 6pm, with a formal program at 5pm.
Pictures from the event can be found aquí.
