Dear Indy,
Eastside reporter Darian Benson wrote about the efforts of neighborhood organizations to push for redevelopment of the long-vacant women’s prison at Randolph and New York streets.
Here’s how her story starts:
Elizabeth Castle drives past what was the Indiana Women’s Prison almost daily. She lives a block away in the Willard Park neighborhood on the near east side.
“I have heard of teenagers shooting guns and hiding in the old prison building according to neighborhood emails and have seen people wandering around the remains of buildings,” Castle said.
Neighbors say the long-vacant Indiana Women’s Prison site is in terrible shape, and they hope the city can assist them in redeveloping the property.
“The site is just sitting there, gradually deteriorating,” said Will Pritchard, a member of the Indiana Women’s Prison Alliance, a group advocating for redevelopment.
“Sometimes the windows are open. Sometimes there’s holes in the roofs. It’s often not mowed. It’s collecting trash around the site.”
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In other news
- Students who register for reduced-fare IndyGo ridership can get a free backpack during Back to School Night 6-8 p.m. July 25 at the Julia M. Carson Transit Center.
- The Wayne Township Trustee’s Office and the nonprofit organization Veterans Resource Team will hold a free resource fair for veterans July 24.
- From whale watching to hiking to pedal boating, here are some things to do this month.
Today’s weather from WTHR
Back to dodging some downpours. Not a bunch of coverage today, but it increases each day into midweek with a slow-moving system overhead.
What’s going on around the city
- Wednesday, July 24: Indy Shorts International Film Festival is July 23-28. To catch up on thought-provoking cinema detailing the major issues facing our world today, get tickets for the 5 p.m. Nature & Conservation screening at Living Room Theaters, 745 E 9th St., Suite 810. Tickets start at $12.
- Friday, July 26: Brother Jamaal Nelson and the IUI Black Student Union present “Who is Dis?” an evening of performances, fashion shows, stand-up comedy, Black history, live interviews, vendors and more. The event — which will include ASL interpreting — will take place at the Indiana Historical Society, 450 W Ohio St., 7-10 p.m., with tickets starting at $20.
- Friday, Aug. 2: A free exhibition of works by Filipino-American artists in Indianapolis will open with a reception at Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive, 6-9 p.m., and will feature vendors from the Filipino Market. The art show, “Markings of Remembrance,” was developed in close collaboration with the Philippines Cultural Community Center.
— Jennifer Delgadillo, arts and culture editor
Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.
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What else we’re reading today
- Indiana Capital Chronicle: Marion County becomes majority non-white
- Chalkbeat Indiana: Experts promote daily habits and parental help to boost student literacy in the summer and beyond
- IndyStar: ‘I kept saying no’: Women accuse top Hogsett aide of preying on subordinates for years
Notes from our Documenters
This week we have four meetings on our schedule.
Today, we’re covering the Franklin Township school board and the Indianapolis Public Library board of trustees.
Thursday, we’re covering the Business and Neighborhood Services board and IndyGo board.
What other meetings should we cover? Let me know.
— Ariana Beedie, community journalism director
Interested in being a Documenter? Here’s how.
Reflections
Many on the east side were shaken last week to hear news about the death of Ron Gee, who was an important community voice advocating against violence.
Breanna Cooper, Mary Claire Molloy and Claire Rafford reached out to friends and family to learn about Gee and published a story Thursday evening. Friday’s newsletter was already produced by the time the story was posted, but I wanted to take a minute in this edition to point out the important article they wrote.
Chris
P.S. If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at chris.sikich@mirrorindy.org. It helps us serve you better.
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