Another exciting year outdoors is in store for Indianapolis residents as the city pursues improvements at 42 parks throughout Marion County.
Alex Cortwright, spokesman for Indy Parks, said some of those projects will be completed by next spring or summer. The Indy Parks and Recreation system includes 214 parks and 130 playgrounds, as well as sports fields, recreational trails and more.
“The most exciting things about 2024 for us is just the historic investment that people are going to see in Indy parks,” Cortwright said. “Folks will really be able to see that on a huge scale in 2024.”
The improvements are fueled by more than $140 million in government and private grants, including $80 million in grants from the Lilly Endowment.
Additional work will be funded through a $45 million investment, called the Circle City Forward project, that was announced by Mayor Joe Hogsett in 2021. The ongoing improvements to the city’s parks align with Indy Parks’ five-year master plan launched in 2017 and updated this past summer.
Three of the major highlights expected to be completed this year include:
- A new family center and playground at Frederick Douglass Park in Martindale Brightwood on the north side
- A major renovation of the existing family center at Krannert Park on the west side
- The construction of the new Riverside Adventure Park at Riverside Regional Park on the west side
The upgrades at Frederick Douglass Park and Krannert Park will allow for expanded traditional programming for children who sign up for summer day camps, Cortwright said.
Public meetings were recently held for four parks — Tarkington, Franklin Township, Chapel Hill and Martin Luther King Jr. — to show initial plans for improvements and get public input, he added. Those projects are set to open for construction bids in the summer or later in the year. Construction likely won’t start until the fall or early 2025.
A major expansion of Southwestway Park into a regional park also is a priority, according to the master plan update. More public input on possible changes, such as an expanded trail system, new athletic fields near Mann Road, and additional fishing and boating opportunities, will be sought in the future.
“Southwestway is unique because of all the space we have down there,” Cortwright said.
Playground upgrades across Indianapolis
Indy Parks is using $16.7 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to transform 27 playgrounds across the city.
Those playgrounds will receive new equipment and rubberized or synthetic turf surfacing. Some of the same parks where the playgrounds are located will also get nearby walking paths; picnic shelter renovations; and resurfacings and, in some cases, expansions of basketball and tennis courts. Wi-Fi also will be added at about 20 parks.
Much of the work is already underway, Cortwright said, with 23 of them scheduled to have upgrades completed by the spring or summer.
Two playgrounds already received upgrades in 2023: Ringgold Park, 1500 Ringgold Ave., and Stacy Park, 1503 Hoyt Ave.
For two others, work has not yet begun: Graham Edward Martin Park, 1500 Fall Creek Parkway East Dr., and Watkins Park, 2360 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.
More details about the improvements planned or underway at these and several other playgrounds are available on the Indy Parks website.
And here’s a quick look at park improvements around the city that will get underway, and in many cases be completed, in 2024:
Northside parks
Al E. Polin Park, 100 E. 29th St. in Mapleton-Fall Creek, will be getting a basketball court upgrade, a new playground, walkway improvements and beautification.
Ensign Graham Edward Martin Park, West 16th and Fall Creek Parkway East Drive, will get a new splash pad, picnic shelter, pickleball courts, comfort station, two parking lots and improvements to the sports field near Crispus Attucks High School.
Frederick Douglass Park, 1616 E. 25th St., will get a new 48,000-square-foot family center, which will include fitness areas, locker rooms and a gym, as well as community reading rooms, a video gaming room and a podcasting studio to be paid for with about $23 million in Circle City Forward funding. Another $5.2 million in Lilly Endowment funds will help pay for a new playground and synthetic sports fields for football and baseball.
Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road, will get playground improvements, new signage, walkway upgrades and repairs to the gazebo.
Sahm Park, 6801 E. 91st St., will use $2.7 million in Lilly Endowment funding to renovate the tennis pavilion, add shelters and walkways, improve parking and replace the playground, which will include the installation of adult outdoor fitness equipment.
Tarkington Park, 45 W. 40th St., will use $3 million in Lilly funds to add circular walkways, additional shelters and a farmer’s market pavilion, as well as to improve youth sports fields.
Eastside parks
Dubarry Park, 3698 DuBarry Road, will be getting a new splash pad.
Grassy Creek Regional Park, 10510 E. 30th St., will spend $8.6 million in funding to acquire 82 acres of land and build a new environmental center with rooms available for rent, which should be completed by the fall. Another $5.6 million in Lilly Endowment grant money will help pay for new playgrounds, picnic areas and park trails, including a boardwalk over the Grassy Creek wetlands.
Indianapolis World Sports Park, 1313 S. Post Road, will build a concession pavilion with restrooms and paved parking lot, which should be completed near the end of 2024.
Washington Park, 3130 E. 30th St., will improve the family center and add a playground and shelter on the north side using $437,000 in Circle City Forward funds. Another $3.5 million in Lilly Endowment funding will help replace the central playground and add a new splash pad, shelter, parking lot and comfort station.
Southside parks
Franklin Township Community Park, 8801 E. Edgewood Ave., will be getting a new playground, picnic shelter, new hardcourts, and the paving of an existing nature trail to better serve school athletic and community recreational needs. That park is adjacent to Franklin Central High School.
Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Drive, will use $5.5 million in funding to improve the pagoda, playgrounds and sunken garden fountains.
Perry Park, 451 E. Stop 11 Road, will get aquatic and park improvements as well as a new playground and shelter.
Southside Park, 1941 E. Hanna Ave., will use $2 million in Lilly funding for a new playground, adult fitness equipment, a sports field, hardcourts and a shelter.
Southwestway Park, 8400 Mann Road, will use $1.25 million in Lilly funds to build a comfort station and a shelter, expand the parking lot and build a playground with adult fitness equipment.
Tolin-Akeman Park, 4459 Shelbyville Road, will use $1.27 million in Lilly funds to upgrade a playground and add a shelter, basketball court, pickleball courts and walking trail.
Westside parks
Chapel Hill Park, 900 N. Girls Schools Road, will get a new playground, upgraded basketball court and baseball diamond, new pickleball courts, a comfort station and a splash pad.
Eagle Creek Park, 7840 W. 56th St., which is the largest in the Indy Parks system with more than 5,000 acres, will spend $2.6 million of Lilly Endowment funding on accessibility upgrades on the Pin Oak Trail near the Earth Discovery Center and more community program engagement.
Geisse Soccer Park, 7225 W. 56th St., across from Eagle Creek Park, will get $2.48 million for a new drainage system, a pavilion shelter, comfort stations and expanded programming.
Gustafson Park, 3110 Moller Road, will upgrade an existing football field to a synthetic multipurpose field and get a new digital scoreboard, comfort station, playground and basketball courts.
Krannert Park, 605 S. High School Road, will spend $10.6 million in Circle City Forward funding on a major renovation of the existing family center to be completed in early 2024 that will provide exercise areas, multipurpose rooms, locker rooms, a new enclosed swimming pool in a separate aquatic building, and an exterior splash pad. Another $3.7 million in Lilly Endowment funding will pay for upgrades to the playground, trails and basketball court.
Kuntz Sports Complex, 1502 W. 16th St., will use $2.75 million in Lilly Endowment funding to convert the practice field from a natural turf field to synthetic turf, improve the grade and irrigation of the main field and install new LED sports stadium lighting at both fields.
Major Taylor Skate Park, 3649 Cold Spring Road, will be expanded and LED lighting will be added to extend its hours of operation.
Riverside Regional Park, 2420 E. Riverside Drive, just broke ground on a new adventure park, scheduled to be finished by the end of 2024, that will replace the former Riverside Golf Course. It will feature a nature-inspired playground, fitness loop trail with outdoor exercise equipment, paved walking trails, and a pavilion and plaza with restrooms and parking. It’s the latest improvement for Riverside that includes the Riverside Promenade walkway that opened in October and the renovation of the Taggart Memorial into a performance venue.
Dwight Adams is a contributor for Mirror Indy. Contact him at hdadams0621@gmail.com.