Following the 2023 name change, the park is receiving upgrades to the family center and football field
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Mayor Joe Hogsett joined City-County Councilor Frank Mascari, Indy Parks, Citizens Energy Group President and CEO Jeffrey Harrison, and community members to highlight renovations from Citizens Energy Group’s Sharing The Dream service project and the park’s name change that was made in 2023. Mayor Hogsett presented a proclamation to the family of Stanley Strader to designate today, January 15, 2024, as Stanley Strader Park Day in the City of Indianapolis.
“Sharing the Dream – now in its sixteenth year – has once again revitalized a beloved Indianapolis City Park,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Combined with an ongoing renovation of its football field, the newly renamed Stanley Strader Park is currently receiving a total investment of more than a million dollars between the City and its community partners. That reflects the central importance of these public spaces.”
Stanley Strader was born in 1939 and was a lifelong resident of the southeast side of Indianapolis. Strader was elected to the Indianapolis City-County Council in 1980 and served for the next ten years. As a Councilor, he delivered city funding for improvements to Bethel Park, restoration of the fountains in Fountain Square, and the Bean Creek drainage project. Bethel Park was renamed Stanley Strader Park in 2023.
“As Councilor of District 19, I welcome these much needed and important improvements for Stanley Strader,” said Councilor Frank Mascari. “I was proud to work with former Councilor and Chair of Indy Parks William ‘Duke’ Oliver to have changed the name of the park to Stanley Strader to keep former Councilor Strader’s legacy and commitment for our city’s parks alive. Thank you to Mayor Hogsett, Indy Parks, and community partners for making this possible.”
Citizens Energy Group and more than 30 partners this year have also contributed $300,000–either monetarily or with in-kind donations of equipment or expertise–to upgrade the park’s buildings and facilities. This is the 16th year for Citizens’annual Sharing The Dream event with Indy Parks.
“Parks across Indianapolis are the site of sweet family gatherings and significant community conversations,” said Jeffrey Harrison, President and CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “We hope that our time spent painting, fixing, and upgrading facilities and equipment here at Stanley Strader Park means that staff, neighbors, and visitors alike will enjoy safer, cleaner, more efficient and more comfortable spaces for these important community functions.”
The Stanley Strader Park football field is also being renovated with funding from Indy Parks Capital budget. The $796,000 project is scheduled to be completed this summer.
“Thank you to Citizens Energy Group for the substantial improvements you’ve made to the Family Center, your work will make this an even more enjoyable spot for residents to do everything from playing basketball to hosting community events,” said Indy Parks Director Phyllis Boyd. “Between the family center improvements and the new football field, Stanley Strader Park is seeing more than $1 million in improvements that will benefit the community Mr. Strader loved so much.”
