Nearly 20% of the city’s 218 parks will see construction in 2026
INDIANAPOLIS – As 2025 comes to a close, Indy Parks is highlighting the department’s progress on over $150 million in park improvement projects, along with programming and essential services provided in 2025. 43 city parks are expected to see construction on new amenities in 2026, representing nearly 20% of the city’s 218 parks.
Historic Investments in Parks
- 2025 marked the completion of the transformational projects funded by the city’s Circle City Forward Initiative (CCF).
- In May, the city celebrated the completion of Riverside Adventure Park, a $13 million project that transformed the 180-acre section of Riverside Park with 4+ miles of new trails, a nature playground, new restrooms, pavilions and shelters. Coming in 2026: Plans to add an archery range to the Adventure Park are scheduled to begin. Drone footage of the Riverside Adventure Park can be found here.
- Also in May, Indy Parks opened its first center on the far east side with Grassy Creek Environmental Community Center. The new nature playground at Grassy Creek is now the largest playground in the city. Coming in 2026: Indy Parks will build on these CCF and Lily Endowment funded improvements by taking public input as part of the Park Master Plan process, including a public meeting on December 16 at 6:30 pm at the Grassy Creek Environmental Community Center.
- Indy Parks made historic progress towards completing the $80 million Lilly Endowment Grant. 39 projects funded by the grant have had contracts awarded, begun construction, or been completed as of December 2025. This year’s completed projects include:
- Washington Park: Completed in August, this $3.5 million renovation built a new central playground, splash pad, and event shelter. Drone footage of the project can be found here.
- Holliday Park Playground: Thanks to additional fundraising from the Holliday Park Foundation, this $6 million project established a new flagship playground at Holliday Park, which opened in the fall of 2025.
- Garfield Park Sunken Gardens: Overseen by the Friends of Garfield Park, the construction and testing of the Sunken Garden Fountains were completed in late 2025. The fountains were winterized and will open to the public in the spring 2026.
- Franklin Township Community Park: This $2.8 million renovation opened to the public in October, providing southside residents with a new playground, trails, shelter, pickleball, and basketball courts.
- Southside Park: Scheduled to open in December once weather allows, this $2 million project established a new playground, shelter, pickleball, and basketball courts.
- Indy Parks has now completed construction on 20 playgrounds funded by the American Rescue Plan Act at small and medium sized parks across the city. Combined with the Lilly Endowment Grant, Indy Parks is in the process of replacing over 40% of the city’s 130 playgrounds.
- Other City and Community Funded Projects:
- On April 4, city leaders broke ground on the transformational $6.8 million MLK Gateway Project. The renovation will elevate the site where Senator Robert Kennedy gave his famous speech informing the people of Indianapolis that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated earlier that day. Construction is scheduled for completion in April 2026.
- Al Polin WNBA All Star Legacy Court: To recognize the WNBA All Star game being hosted in Indianapolis, Indy Parks partnered with WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee to build a new basketball court at Al Polin Park. The park will also feature a new playground and walkways when construction finishes in early 2026.
- Councilor-Directed Projects: In late 2024, four City County Councilors selected parks to receive $1 million investments.
- Canterbury Park (Councilor Barth): a new playground, volleyball court, pump track and other site improvements are scheduled to begin construction in early 2026.
- Robey Park (Councilor Wells): a new shelter, hard courts, and trail improvements are scheduled to begin construction in early 2026.
- Thompson Park (Councilor Dilk): a new playground and improved trails and courts began construction in the fall of 2025 with anticipated completion in summer of 2026.
- WISH Park (Councilor Robinson): a new playground, parking lot, shelter, and site amenities are funded by the Lilly Endowment and Councilor Robinson’s project. Construction will begin in late 2025 with completion scheduled for fall 2026.
Programs and Services
2025 was also a significant year for the more than 2,400 Indy Parks programs that provide essential services and quality of life amenities to Indianapolis residents.
- Food Program: Indy Parks’ food program helps combat food insecurity every year but filled an especially important role during the longest federal government shutdown in the fall of 2025. With resources like the Drive and Dish program, which allows residents to order groceries online and pick them up at a park center, food pantries, and free meal services; Indy Parks filled a crucial need for residents dealing with additional food insecurity in the face of frozen SNAP benefits.
- Pools: Indy Parks had another successful summer season, headlined by the department’s aquatics and summer camp offerings. Staffing levels recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2025, with 279 seasonal aquatics staff hired, allowing pools to open earlier than in recent years. The department is also in the multi-year process of building out four additional splash pads to increase access to aquatics amenities; those projects will bring the total number of splash pads to 27.
- Summer Camps: Over 4,200 youth participated in Indy Parks summer camps in 2025 at 17 park locations across the city. These enriching programs play an essential role in supporting local families by providing quality, affordable activities for kids over the summer.
- Free Concerts: Indy Parks hosted over 50 concerts through Summer and Winter Concert Series offerings, highlighting local artists and a variety of genres. A list of 2025 performances can be found here.
