Last year, the 25 members of the City-County Council were given a unique opportunity: $1 million to spend toward a parks or infrastructure project of their choice.
Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration introduced the concept during the 2025 budget process to give councilors — and the neighborhoods they represent — a chance to develop a project important to their communities.
Some chose to fix up roads or sidewalks in their neighborhoods. Others wanted to add new playgrounds and amenities to public parks in their district.
This year, though, it’s unclear if councilors will have the same opportunity.
A Hogsett spokesperson did not directly answer a Mirror Indy question about that.
The mayor’s office has been “engaging with councilors on their funding priorities throughout the process to develop the 2026 budget,” a process that “remains ongoing,” Hogsett spokesperson Aliya Wishner told Mirror Indy.
Hogsett is expected to introduce the 2026 budget at the council’s Aug. 11 meeting.
Meanwhile, some of the councilors’ proposed projects from the last budget have been approved, while others are still in flux.
We decided to follow up to see how each councilor used — or, in some cases, plans to use — the money.
Parks
WISH Park, located in Councilor Leroy Robinson’s district on the northwest side, is slated to receive $1 million for improvements. Those upgrades will include a new playground, parking lot, shelter, accessible walkways, benches and various play features.
Robey Park, which falls in Councilor Crista Carlino’s district on the west side, is expected to get a new shelter and comfort station, and an old, outdated playground is slated for demolition. Community members already have access to the playground at Robey Elementary School.
Councilor John Barth, who represents Broad Ripple and Meridian Kessler, is directing $1 million to improve Canterbury Park, which will get a new playground, a volleyball court, a connection to the Monon Trail and public restrooms.
Councilor Mike Dilk chose to use his portion to improve Thompson Park, including refurbishing the basketball court, installing a new playground and building new walkways.
All of the parks projects are expected to finish by late summer 2026.
Forest and green space preservation
The two councilors who chose to put their share toward land acquisition are facing some hurdles.
Councilor Paul Annee is hoping the city will acquire a 23-acre parcel of land located east of I-69, west of South Harding Street and just north of West Southport Road in Perry Township.
Annee hopes to turn the space into a park.
“Perry Township is one of the most, if not the most, underserved townships with respect to parks and green spaces,” Annee said.
The green space, which is in a floodplain, is currently on the market but the city’s real estate team and the property owner are “at a standstill” in the negotiation process, said Don Colvin, deputy parks director.
Meanwhile, Councilor Brienne Delaney is in the process of trying to secure an 8-acre parcel of the Haverstick Woods, located just north of North Central High School on 86th Street.
It is one of the few remaining patches of urban forest in one of the most congested areas of the city, according to the Indiana Forest Alliance.
While the city is working to purchase the land, several appraisals did not match what the landowner feels the property is worth, Colvin said.
The top priority is securing the land, but if there is money left over, Delaney hopes to add a trail and access point so that Indy residents can traverse the wooded area.
Streets, sidewalks and trails
The rest of the 19 councilors chose to put their pots of money toward public works projects.
East side
On the far east side, Councilor Rena Allen is hoping to get new sidewalks on 38th Street between German Church Road and Carroll Road. The Department of Public Works is still meeting with contractors to determine if it can be done within the $1 million budget, council spokesperson Fernanda Ramirez-Strickland told Mirror Indy.
Council Vice President Ali Brown, whose district includes Lawrence, wants to add a pedestrian path to a bridge just south of 56th Street and German Church Road to make the crossing safer.
On the near east side, Councilor Jesse Brown wants new and repaired sidewalks and drainage improvements in the areas north of JTV Hill Park and south of Frederick Douglass Park.
Councilor Keith Graves chose Gatewood Lane and Courtney Road for resurfacing in the Warren Creek neighborhood.
Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, the Republican minority leader, chose road resurfacing in the eastside Forest Creek neighborhood, which he said he picked because of its old infrastructure.
Councilor Andy Nielsen, who represents Irvington, wants to put a pedestrian connection on the north side of Pleasant Run Parkway, from Ritter Avenue to the bridge east of Ritter. He also wants to make intersection improvements at Ritter Avenue and Pleasant Run Parkway.
West side
Councilor Jared Evans is putting his money toward purchasing land at 2202 S. Bridgeport Road for the White Lick Creek Trail and Vandalia Trail. He’s also using it to repave streets in the Avon Creek Estates subdivision.
Councilor Kristin Jones wants to make improvements to roads, sidewalks and alleys in the areas of South Bosart Avenue, Brookville Road, South Drexel Road and Stratford Avenue in the Christian Park neighborhood.
Councilor Maggie Lewis, the Democratic majority leader on the council and a representative for northwest Indy, is focusing on intersection safety projects at two crossroads: Moller Road and 38th Street, and High School Road and 38th Street.
Councilor Jessica McCormick is using her money to fix up Crawfordsville Road in Speedway, with additional money going toward improvements to two intersections: Holt Road and West Michigan Street, and Holt Road and Rockville Road. Her pot of money will also go toward redoing a parking lot at Ridenour Park.
Council President Vop Osili is directing funds to resurface the following streets in the Highland neighborhood: Shriver Street, Highland Street, 23rd Street, 24th Street, 25th Street and Boulevard Place.
On the northwest side, Councilor Carlos Perkins wants to see street improvements along Zionsville Road in the Quail Ridge Neighborhood, between 62nd and 71st streets.
North side
Councilor Dan Boots, who represents parts of the north side, wants to use the funding to make safety improvements at three intersections: Binford Boulevard and 71st Street, Binford Boulevard and Graham Avenue, and Graham Avenue and 71st Street. He also wants to improve the trail crossing at Skiles Test Nature Park across from Fall Creek Road.
Councilor Ron Gibson is pushing for resurfacing on Westbourne Drive between 42nd Street and Millersville Road; Ashbourne Lane between Westbourne Drive and Brown Road; and Devon Drive between Sherman Avenue and Brown Road.
Councilor Nick Roberts, who represents Lawrence and Geist, is putting his share toward concrete patching in the Hunters Ridge and Geist Landing neighborhoods.
South side
Councilor Josh Bain wants to design a roundabout and intersection improvements at Camby Road and Trotter Road in southwest Indy.
Councilor Derek Cahill hopes to make safety improvements at the busy intersection of Madison Avenue and Stop 11 Road in southern Perry Township. He also wants to increase safety and mobility on East Stop 10 Road between Shelby Street and Madison Avenue.
Councilor Frank Mascari, who represents Beech Grove, is looking to repave Churchman Avenue between Main Street and South Emerson Avenue, and on Troy/Albany Street between South Parker Avenue and Emerson Avenue.
Councilor Brian Mowery wants to resurface Sunset Ridge Parkway, from Five Points Road to Moonstruck Parkway, in Franklin Township.
What’s the status of the infrastructure projects?
Once cost estimates and schedules are finalized, the contracts will go to the Board of Public Works for approval, DPW spokesperson Kyle Bloyd told Mirror Indy.
All of the DPW projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Mirror Indy eastside reporter Darian Benson contributed to this story.
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Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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