Great Places 2020 Adds Neighborhoods
Local Initiatives Support Corp. of Indianapolis has announced the selection of two neighborhoods that will be a part of the Great Places 2020 program. The organization says the neighborhoods will receive assistance in creating a redevelopment plan and funding for early implementation efforts.
Great Places 2020 aims to engage philanthropic, civic and private sector partners to help transform specific neighborhoods in Indy. The new neighborhoods will join three others identified in late 2014 to receive four years of implementation support. Six total neighborhoods will ultimately benefit from the initiative.
"The next four years will be full of critical decisions for Indianapolis that will shape its future. It can either continue its trajectory upward to be one of the leading cities in the country, or fall victim to its growing challenges of disinvestment, loss of population, and failing civic systems," said Bill Taft, executive director of LISC Indianapolis. "Indianapolis must define and become the kind of city it aims to be, with a particular focus on its neighborhoods."
The newly-added neighborhoods are:
25th and MLK Great Place, which includes partners such as Flanner House of Indianapolis, the Center for Leadership Development, Groundworks, Marian University and Eskenazi Health. LISC says the neighborhood aims to "increase connectivity with the completion of Fall Creek Trail, leverage the Canal, White River and Fall Creek as waterway assets that complement Riverside Park, and build upon a vibrant business corridor along MLK, home to businesses like Barbecue Heaven."
Twin Aire Great Place, which features partners, including Southeast Neighborhood Development, Twin Aire Community Coalition and Citizen’s Energy Group. "With significant support from federal programs including the Promise Zone and the Economic Development Administration, there is significant momentum already working toward achieving the community’s vision of a centrally-located multi-purpose festival green, a greenway park along Pleasant Run, and a new park at Rural and English," said LISC.
In May, LISC unveiled the strategic plans for the previously-announced neighborhoods, which include Englewood Village, Maple Crossing and River West. The organization says more than $84 million has been committed to those neighborhoods from more than 50 partners.
LISC expects the total investment in all five neighborhoods to exceed $20 million in 2017. You can learn more about the Great Places 2020 initiative by clicking here.