Improving Indy’s Major Waterways
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowPlans are in the works to help revitalize neighborhoods along major waterways in Indianapolis. The city is looking to invest more than $6 million next year in several projects, including a trail, housing development and Central Canal improvements.
December 16, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, along with the Department of Public Works and Reconnecting to Our Waterways, announced plans today to invest $6.16 million next year in projects aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods along five of the city's major waterways.
The funding is a mixture of local and federal public funding as well as local and national private funding. All projects are scheduled to begin construction in 2015.
Projects include the following:
-Pleasant Run – $580,000 to fully replace the Barth Avenue Bridge. $500,000 through DMD and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grants, $80,000 Kresge Foundation/Central Indiana Community Foundation.
-White River – $580,000 to install planter boxes and lighting on New York St. Bridge over White River. Michigan St. bridge installation is scheduled for 2016-2017. $500,000 DPW funding as part of the bridge reconstruction project. $80,000 Kresge Foundation/Central Indiana Community Foundation.
-Pogue’s Run – $500,000 through DMD and HUD Community Development Block Grants to complete the Pogue's Run Trail from the Monon to the Circle City Industrial Complex and Spade’s Park.
-Fall Creek – $1 million through DMD and HUD Community Development Block Grants for new multi-family housing development near Fall Creek Delaware Spider Gateway.
-Central Canal – $1.25 million through DMD and HUD Community Development Block Grants to purchase and develop CSX railroad from 16th St. near Fall Creek Parkway to 29th Street along the Canal.
-Central Canal – $2.25 million from DPW for the development on the Canal in Broad Ripple redesigning the Central Canal north bank from College to Gilford Avenues.
Reconnecting to Our Waterways is a collective-impact initiative that works with neighborhoods to strengthen the waterways and in turn uses the waterways to strengthen the neighborhoods. In its three-year tenure, the initiative has raised nearly $3 million in cash to improve our waterways and the adjacent neighborhoods and reclaim them as under-utilized assets. The Central Indiana Community Foundation matched the $1.35 million grant from the Kresge Foundation with an additional $300,000 to sustain continued projects through 2016. These creative place-making projects will use arts and culture to shape the physical and social character of Indy neighborhoods.
To date, Reconnecting Our Waterways has allocated $370,000 for creative place-making projects along Fall Creek Parkway at Delaware St., Pleasant Run at Prospect Avenue and Barth Avenue. Those projects are currently underway. Reconnecting Our Waterways allocates this funding through its six public waterway committees: White River, Pleasant Run, Pogue’s Run, Little Eagle Creek, Central Canal and Fall Creek. An additional $250,000 will be awarded for creative place-making projects in 2015.
To get involved or to find more information, visit www.ourwaterways.org.