Indy Pumping Millions Into Parks
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowWork is underway on $8 million in improvements to 16 parks in Marion County. The Indianapolis Parks Foundation says the projects are supported by grants from several organizations. They include: Lilly Endowment Inc., Indianapolis Power & Light Co., Pacers Sports & Entertainment, United Water, 3Mgives and FinishLine.
May 27, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS – (May 27, 2014) The Indianapolis Parks Foundation gathered today with Mayor Ballard, community leaders and stakeholders at Haughville Park to announce the start of construction on more than 40 projects in 16 parks throughout Marion County.
Funding for several of the projects is provided, in part by, a $10 million grant for capital improvements, maintenance and park programming from Lilly Endowment Inc. that was awarded to the Indianapolis Parks Foundation at the end of 2012. The announcement came as City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works continued construction on a new parking lot at the near-westside park, which will soon receive upgraded playground equipment, a new shelter and interactive water spray ground.
“The Indianapolis Parks Foundation board and staff are proud to lead efforts to transform our parks, strengthen our community and enrich the lives of our youth, families and seniors,” said Indianapolis Parks Foundation Board Chair, Kevin Osburn. “We are grateful for all our generous supporters who are committed to improving our city through an investment in our parks, and especially for the substantial gift from the Endowment that allows us to continue leveraging additional support.”
The improvements to existing infrastructure and new amenities are an investment of more than $8 million using funds granted to the Parks Foundation from the Endowment, Indianapolis Power & Light Company, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, United Water, 3Mgives and FinishLine.
“People moving to America’s cities want things like great parks,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “These great investments in Indy Parks and the many other quality-of-life improvements we are making in our city each contribute to making our neighborhoods more attractive places for people to live.”
The $10 million grant from the Endowment was the largest single gift in the Indianapolis Parks Foundation’s 20-year history and is being administered over a three year period that began in 2013.
“Parks are important to the quality of life of our community,” said Ace Yakey, the Endowment’s vice president for community development. “The Endowment is pleased to join with other funders in helping the Indianapolis Parks Foundation and Indy Parks & Recreation make these significant park enhancements.”
The first phase of projects will include renovation of existing playgrounds, hard-surface courts, water spray grounds and walking trails, as well as adding much-needed amenities such as permanent restrooms and shelters in neighborhood parks ranging in size from 5 to 27 acres (see below). The second phase of projects is currently being developed for implementation in 2015 and will include similar park and recreation improvements.
2014 Spring + Fall Construction
Garfield Park
2345 Pagoda Drive
Renovate: Outdoor Basketball Court
Olin Park
702 N. Olin Avenue
Renovate: Outdoor Basketball Court
61st & Broadway Park
6051 N. Broadway Street
Install: Permanent Restroom
Bertha Ross Park
3700 Clifton Street
Install: Shelter + Water Spray Ground
Upgrade: Playground Equipment
Renovate and Relocate: Basketball Court
Haughville Park
605 N. Belleveiw
Install: Parking Lot + Shelter
Upgrade: Water Spray Ground + Playground Equipment
Dubarry Park
3698 Dubarry Road
Install: Shelter + Permanent Restroom + Playground
Convert: Tennis Courts to Basketball
Greene Park
1700 N. Franklin Road
Install: Water Spray Ground
Expand: Parking Lot
Upgrade: Playground Equipment
Wildwood Park
8100 Southeastern Avenue
Install: Playground + Water Spray Ground + Permanent Restroom + Parking Lot + Sidewalks
Gardner Park
6900 E. 46th Street
Renovate: Walking Trail + Basketball Courts
Upgrade: Playground Equipment
Stout Field Park
3820 W. Bradbury
Install: Water Spray Ground + Permanent Restroom + Shelter
Upgrade: Playground Equipment + Walking Trail
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
1702 N. Broadway
Upgrade: Playground Equipment + Shelter
Bel Aire Park
2915 S. Tibbs
Install: Permanent Restroom + Soccer Field + Shelter
Upgrade: Playground Equipment
Frank & Judy O’Bannon Soccer Park
1001 E. 16th Street
Renovate: Irrigation + Fields (complete)
Install: Permanent Restroom
Eagle Creek Park
5901 Delong Road
Install: Geothermal Pond at Earth Discovery Center
Tarkington Park
45 W. 40th Street
Install: Shelters
Upgrade: Playground Equipment
Chuck Klein Softball Complex
4702 Rockville Road
Facility Renovation in partnership with the City of Indianapolis
Complete
Municipal Gardens Park
1601 N. Lafayette Road
Upgrade: Water Spray Ground
Thatcher Park
4649 W. Vermont
Build: Outdoor Basketball court
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About the Indianapolis Parks Foundation
The Indianapolis Parks Foundation seeks financial support from community partners such as service organizations, corporations and individuals to purchase land, develop new parks, maintain existing parks, upgrade park facilities and provide support to programs benefitting children, families and seniors throughout Indianapolis. To learn more, visit www.indyparksfoundation.org or call (317) 860-3253.
About Indy Parks & Recreation
The mission of Indy Parks & Recreation is to create fun, safe, engaging and sustainable parks that enhance the quality of life for individuals, neighborhoods and communities. Indy Parks will be a national model of excellence and destination for facilities and programs, protecting parks, greenways and open spaces and championing environmental initiatives. For more information, visit www.indy.gov/parks or call (317) 327-PARK.
About the Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly Family – J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment, however, is a separate entity from the company with a distinct governing board, staff and location. It is devoted to the causes of religion, education and community development.
Source: Indianapolis Parks Foundation