Longtime Oxford resident Sue Lindsey remembers when the Indianapolis Zoo was moved away from Washington Park. She said she didn’t think the city would invest in the neighborhood after the zoo left.
“For a long time it was just like a dead space,” she said. “The park was full of weeds.”
Washington Park, located at 3130 E. 30th St., is one of the city’s largest parks. It features a disc golf course, a family center and trails.
And now, the park is getting the investment Lindsey hoped for with a new playground and splash pad. Other upgrades include new shelters, restrooms, an improved parking lot and an event lawn.
The splash pad is awaiting water testing results and is not yet available for use. All other park amenities are now open to the public. City officials and community members celebrated the new amenities at a ribbon cutting Aug. 13.
City-County Councilor Ron Gibson, a Democrat who represents the area, said the park holds a special place in the history of Indianapolis. In addition to the zoo, the park was once home to the Indianapolis Indians’ and Indianapolis ABCs’ baseball fields.
“Washington Park has always been a place where culture, connection and community come together,” Gibson said. “These investments build on a legacy and ensure that this park continues to be a place where people can gather, play and grow for many years to come.”
The $3.5 million upgrades are funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. In 2022, Indy Parks and Recreation received $80 million from the endowment for park improvements across the city. The funds represented 14 times the department’s annual capital budget, according to Indy Parks.
Some of the other eastside parks that have received upgrades include Frederick Douglass Park and Grassy Creek Regional Park.
Lindsey is excited about the upgrades at Washington Park and encourages other community members to explore the park. Her great-grandchildren have already played on the new playground.
“I’m going to be 85,” she said, “and to live to see the progress in my neighborhood is a joy and a blessing to me.”
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Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or darian.benson@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social.
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