Indianapolis, IN – With colorfully designed spaces and stunning views of the White River, the new Broad Ripple Park Family Center made its debut on Thursday with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. After a year and a half of construction and extensive community involvement through the park’s master plan process, Indy Parks unveiled the center as a place to play, explore, and enjoy unlimited opportunities for recreational programs and activities.
“Today, a beloved Indy Park becomes an even better resource for health, community, and recreation,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Broad Ripple Park’s new Family Center joins an ever-increasing list of major upgrades and rebuilds for Indy Parks – projects that are informed by input from the communities they will serve.”
“With this new space, we are increasing our capacity to serve and offer more valuable resources to community members and their families,” said Phyllis Boyd, director of Indy Parks. “We are committed to providing the programs and activities that really impact a person’s life in the most positive and encouraging ways. Our parks are here for people to enjoy.”
The family center now features an indoor walking track, gymnasium, group exercise rooms, multipurpose rooms with large windows, children’s play area equipped with an indoor playground and party room, and group meeting space.
“From the initial conversations to a groundbreaking, and now a ribbon cutting, I’m thrilled to see the hard work of so many people come to life,” said Keith Potts, City-County Council. “The Family Center will be an invaluable addition to our community and provide opportunities for so many residents of Indianapolis.”
Through a first-of-its kind partnership for Indy Parks, Community Health Network will operate a multi-disciplinary primary care site in the center with a family practice, pediatrics, physical therapy and rehab, X-ray services, and a Quest lab (in office phlebotomist) to support and promote health and wellness.
“We are delighted to partner with Indy Parks and Avenue to promote access to health and fitness,” said Dr. Maureen Sampson, VP, Physician Executive, Community Health Network. “We first began serving the Broad Ripple community nearly 25 years ago when we opened a primary care practice on Broad Ripple Avenue. This new opportunity strengthens our commitment to the Broad Ripple community by allowing us to expand on those services to meet the growing demand of this community.”
Annually, Broad Ripple Parks serves more than 300,000 people through a wide array of programs including summer day camps, special events, and recreational activities. The park also features a seasonal swimming pool, playground, dog park, picnic shelters, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, athletic fields, and fitness trails. Broad Ripple Park serves more than 300,000 people annually.
“This family center represents the true meaning behind the word partnership. From the inception and careful planning process between Indy Parks and the community to build the park’s master plan to the partnership between Indy Parks, Community Health Network and Avenue Development to construct this beautiful new facility,” said Michael Mattingly, Principal and Co-Founder of Avenue Development. “We are extremely excited and proud and hope that the energy that transpired early continues to live on and inspire community members and park-goers who visit.”
Today’s announcement builds on recent major investments in the parks system. Earlier this month, Mayor Hogsett and Indy Parks joined Lilly Endowment to announce an $80 million investment by the Endowment into 42 individual parks. Mayor Hogsett’s Circle City Forward initiative is funding over $300 million in improvements to parks, public facilities, neighborhood streets and thoroughfares, and trails and greenways. And, $16 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding are upgrading playgrounds throughout Indianapolis. Find a map of the improvement locations here and a list of parks improvements here.
Indy Parks is hosting a family center open house on Saturday, January 21 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
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About Indy Parks
With over a century of history advancing the value of parks, Indy Parks connects communities by providing places and experiences that inspire healthy living, social engagement, and a love of nature. Indy Parks is committed to welcoming everyone and providing equitable and inclusive access to programs, services, and greenspaces. Annually, the parks department serves 8 million people and offers 214 parks, 11,258 acres of greenspace, 153 miles of trails, 131 playgrounds, 19 aquatic centers, 155 sports fields, and more than 2,000 programs.
About Community Health Network
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Community Health Network has been deeply committed to the communities it serves since opening its first hospital, Community Hospital East, in 1956. Community Health Network puts patients first while offering a full continuum of healthcare services, world-class innovations, and a new focus on population health management. Exceptional care, simply delivered, is what sets Community Health Network apart and what makes it a leading not-for-profit healthcare destination in central Indiana. For more information about Community Health Network, please visit eCommunity.com.
About Avenue DevelopmentAvenue Development is a full-service real estate development and advisory company focused on innovative solutions for wellness centered healthcare and senior living properties. Avenue services go beyond the walls of a building to provide developments that positively impact the communities in which they serve. For more information about Avenue, visit avenuedev.com.
