Indy Parks and Recreation has made significant improvements across the park system in recent years — new playgrounds, family centers and sports facilities.
Despite Mayor Joe Hogsett asking departments to “do more with less” when preparing the 2026 budget, Indy Parks hopes to continue the momentum heading into the next year.
Most of the money used to improve local parks comes from grants, rather than the city government. Park leaders say that will allow planned projects to move forward next year despite the funding cuts.
Upcoming meeting
City-County Council parks and recreation committee
Parks department 2026 budget presentation
🗓️ 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4
📍 City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St.
🎤 There will be an opportunity for public comment
Mirror Indy sat down with newly appointed Indy Parks director Brittany Crone to talk about the 2026 budget.
What’s taking a hit?
Indy Parks is proposing just over $33.3 million in spending for day-to-day operations in 2026. That’s about $70,000 less than what the department was approved for this year.
Crone said the decreased funding will mostly affect the department’s contracts and supply budget.
“If we were to need a bunch of new uniforms, for example, we would not purchase that amount,” Crone said.
She said the difference in funding will not affect staffing or facility maintenance. Ground maintenance, including mowing and trash, is overseen by the Department of Public Works.
$40 million for park improvements
The department’s proposed capital budget is around $40 million, which will be used to replace park equipment and new developments such as trails or restrooms. The capital budget includes funds from the Lilly Endowment and the American Rescue Plan Act.
In 2022, Indy Parks received an $80 million grant from the Lilly Endowment — about 14 times the department’s annual budget. That money was to be used for improvements across 42 parks.
“I think we saw something very unique, with the Lilly Endowment investment, and it’s something that has fully helped our neighbors and our parks department see our dreams come to reality,” Crone said.
Crone said the remaining Lilly-funded projects are still on track to be completed. That includes $2.6 million in upgrades at Chapel Hill Park.
Leaning on partnerships
Crone said Indianapolis is a big city with a large parks department. The department oversees 218 parks.
“We’re also a bit of a small town,” Crone said, “where people still care very much about where they live and where they work and what access to green spaces exists there.”
Crone said Indy Parks wants to continue to create relationships with philanthropic partners, local businesses and other community organizations.
“Coming together around that shared love of green spaces and amenities that the parks present has been great in the past,” she said, “and we want to continue to see that.”
What’s coming in 2026?
Projects in 2026 include upgrades to city pools and an archery range at Riverside Adventure Park. By the end of 2026, 40% of Indy Parks playgrounds will have been replaced in the past few years.
A map of parks and playground improvements can be found on the Indy Parks website.
Some city-county councilors also chose to use the $1 million allotted to each of them in the budget for park improvements.
Projects include Canterbury Park from northside Democrat John Barth, Doris Cowherd Park from eastside Democrat Keith Graves, Thompson Park from southside Republican Michael Dilk, Robey Park from westside Democrat Crista Carlino, and WISH Park from northeast side Democrat Leroy Robinson.
Give your feedback
The parks department will present its 2026 budget to the City-County Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St. There will be an opportunity for public comment.
There will be another opportunity for public comment during the full City-County Council meeting Sept. 22.
The council is expected to vote on the entire city-county budget Oct. 6.
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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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