Partnerships Lead to Slam Dunk For City Park
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA public-private partnership is responsible for a project to renovate an Indianapolis park basketball court. Representatives from Indianapolis Parks Foundation, Indianapolis Power & Light Co., the Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers met at Garfield Park Wednesday to cut the ribbon for the newly-remodeled court. July 16, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — City leaders and representatives from the Indianapolis Parks Foundation, Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), the Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers gathered today at Garfield Park to celebrate the grand opening of the park’s recently renovated outdoor basketball court. Friends, neighbors and Garfield Park day camp kids officially opened the court at the near-southside park with a park clean up, ribbon cutting and Get Fever Fit Clinic!
“I am proud to be part of an organization that recognizes the value of giving kids in our community a safe, fun and exciting place to develop skills and make good choices,” said Indiana Fever point guard, Briann January. “By renovating this court, kids and adults in this neighborhood can choose to participate in positive activity that promotes healthy lifestyles.”
The Garfield Park outdoor basketball court renovation is part of a public-private partnership announced last spring between IPL, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and the City of Indianapolis through the Parks Foundation. The partnership commits $1.1 million over five years to support much-needed improvements to dozens of outdoor basketball courts throughout the Indy Parks system.
“The Indiana Fever are proud to support projects that give back to the community and promote Indiana's game,” said Kelly Krauskopf President and General Manager of the Indiana Fever. “We are committed to winning championships and supporting the community, and we are proud to invest in youth by supporting the improvement of our parks through outdoor basketball court renovations.”
Since 2002, IPL has generously supported the Indianapolis Parks Foundation as the presenting sponsor of the IPL Mayor’s Lunch for Parks which has raised more than $1 million to continue the work of the Parks Foundation. Last month hundreds of IPL employees participated in the 4th Annual IPL Day in the Parks and spent the day working to improve and beautify Washington and Oscar Charleston Parks on the Eastside.
“IPL is committed to improving the quality of life where our customers and employees live, work and play,” said Greg Fennig, IPL’s Vice President of Public Affairs. “As one of the most frequently used amenities in parks, outdoor basketball courts encourage healthy lifestyles, deter crime and offer an alternative for our at-risk youth and young adults.”
Outdoor basketball court renovations at Thatcher, Olin and Garfield Parks are complete. The next courts slated for renovation include Gardner, Bertha Ross, Christina Oaks, Chapel Hill and Dubarry which is funded by FinishLine.
To learn more about sponsoring a basketball court renovation or to make a donation, please email LHazlett@indyparksfoundation.org
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 Indianapolis Power & Light Company
Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL) provides retail electric service to more than 470,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis, as well as portions of other Central Indiana communities surrounding Marion County. During its long history, IPL has supplied its customers with some of the lowest-cost, most reliable power in the country. For more information about the company, please visit www.IPLpower.com.
Source: Indianapolis Power & Light Co.