Broad Ripple Park

The area now known as Broad Ripple Park first opened officially July 4^th, 1884, once the railroad came to the area. As the city became more connected through the electric streetcar, the area near the White River became known as a very popular summer retreat. In 1906, the White City Amusement Park, named in homage to one of the exhibits at the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, was created on the land that would eventually become Broad Ripple Park.  Several leisure attractions and rides including a 4-acre pool were built in 1908. Sadly, the park would burn down from a fire started in one of the attractions, the day before the grand opening of the pool. The pool was the only attraction that survived.

After the property was left vacant for 3 years, the Union Traction Company bought and rebuilt the park in 1911, adding a brand-new boathouse and playground to the list of rebuilt attractions. The pool was finally opened and quickly became the most popular attraction. Boasted as the “Largest Pool in the World”, the pool continued to be the chief attraction and would be the site for two Olympic Trials, first in 1924 and again in 1952.

In 1922, the park was sold again to the new Broad Ripple Amusement Park Association, which shortened the name to what it is today, Broad Ripple Park. Praised for being “Nature’s Gift to the Amusement World,” they completely overhauled the park, adding new attractions such as a giant rollercoaster, huge carousel, baseball diamond, football field, and a 10,000 square foot dance hall.

The City of Indianapolis purchased the park in 1945, dismantling and selling off most of the rides with the goal of converting the 60-acre property into a city park. Remnants of the amusement park days remain scattered in the park to this day. The only thing kept on the property from the amusement park was the 1917 vintage carousel. It continued to operate until 1956 when it was put into storage because of its deterioration. The carousel was bought by the Children’s Museum in 1966, refurbished and is still in operation today.

Another very popular attraction during this time was an old 587-steam locomotive, donated to the city by the Nickel Plate Railroad. It was placed at the entrance of Broad Ripple Park and remained there until 1983. Afterwards, the locomotive was leased by Indy Parks to the Indiana Transportation Museum who restored the engine and used it mostly to transport attendees to the Indiana State Fair from Fishers, IN to Indianapolis, IN until 1997. Since then, the 587-steam locomotive has been going through its second refurbishment, first at the Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville, IN and now at the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation in Ravenna, KY. After the 587-steam locomotive was removed from park property in 1983, a brand-new branch of the Indianapolis Public Library was constructed in the same spot. After 20 years, Indy Parks took over the building in 2003 and repurposed it into a recreation center. For 18 years, Indy Parks staff ran several classes and special events in the building, eventually outgrowing the space. In 2021, the old library was demolished to create a new family center in partnership with Community Health. The construction finished early 2023 with the grand opening of the new family center happening January 19^th, 2023.