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City of Indianapolis and Lilly Endowment Announce $80 Million in Funds for Indy Parks

INDIANAPOLIS – As Indy Parks explores opportunities to enhance and evaluate future park development, Indy Parks partners with neighborhood groups to create park master plans. Thanks to funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Hogsett administration's Circle City Forward initiative, and a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Indy Parks is seeing a historic level of investment in upgraded facilities and new amenities.
Master Plan Funding
Lilly Endowment Grant
In late 2022, the Lilly Endowment granted $80 million towards improvements across 42 parks in the Indy Parks system. The parks selected for funding were prioritized for upgrades based on community input, an equity lens, and likely impact due to usage rates. The equity lens was informed by a recent assessment of park amenity conditions and a vulnerability index determined by census blocks associated with a particular park. The community engagement, project design, and construction schedule will run through 2025. The total grant award represents 14 times the annual Parks capital budget.

Circle City Forward Initiative
In February 2021, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced a $45 million investment into Indy Parks facilities through the Circle City Forward initiative. The plan set aside $20 million for Frederick Douglass Park's new family center, $11 million for upgrades to Riverside Regional Park, and $7 million for Grassy Greek Park and Krannert Park. In addition to the Circle City Forward Initiative, the City has established funding priorities for park investments, committing an additional $67 million in funds dedicated to parks projects. The City is also leveraging an additional $862 million in Department of Public Works and Department of Metropolitan Development funds for various infrastructure and development projects within a half-mile of the parks.

American Rescue Plan Act
Announced by Mayor Joe Hogsett in October 2021, Indy Parks will use $16.7 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to transform its playgrounds. 28 playgrounds in 26 parks have been selected as part of this project.


Master Plans
Rev. Charles R. Williams Park Master Plan
A beloved part of the near north side community, Rev. Charles R. Williams Park was named for the Indianapolis leader in 2015. Indy Parks has been working with residents, community leaders, and others to determine what is most needed in this park. The park’s Master Plan was completed in 2015, and it calls for a new playground, a spray ground, a performance shelter, and a trail with a connection to the Monon to be built in the park. Ground was broken on September 23, 2022, and renovations are underway.

Broad Ripple Park Master Plan
The Broad Ripple Park Master Plan envisions a big future for the park. Completed in 2016, the plan calls for an estimated reinvestment of $65 million to stabilize and sustain existing park assets, create new program opportunities and features within the park, and to build a more resilient, durable park that the citizens of Indianapolis can enjoy for generations to come. In the summer of 2021, the park’s family center was demolished and construction of a new family center began. As of September 2022, construction is moving along.

Frederick Douglass Park
Part of Mayor Hogsett's Circle City Forward Initiative, Frederick Douglass Park received $20 million for the new family center. The park's new family center will include fitness areas and locker rooms, a new gym, and plenty of office and program activity space. In spring 2021, project organizers and designers began meeting with the public to create plans for the new facility, and the final design was presented in July 2021. A groundbreaking to celebrate the beginning of construction was held on October 13, 2022.

Riverside Regional Park
Completed in 2017, the Riverside Regional Park Master Plan identifies several opportunities to add new amenities and update the existing features of the park to better serve neighbors and community members. The Circle City Forward has set aside $11 million for updates at Riverside Park. These updates include the creation of a regional aquatic center, athletic fields, an adventure park, and a promenade. The promenade construction is currently underway, and Indy Parks celebrated by hosting a groundbreaking on September 10, 2022.

Indy Parks Golf Study
In 2018, Indy Parks completed a Golf Study on all 13 Public Golf Courses owned by Indy Parks. The Golf Study is a comprehensive evaluation of the courses, market demand study, revenue capacity, the physical condition of infrastructure, and a strategic plan to guide current and future urban green space use. The study is a result of a proactive recognition of the need to explore and balance the need to preserve and continue to offer golf as a key recreational benefit to residents.

Individual Indy Parks Master Plans
View your park’s master plan on indygov.com:

  • Acton Park
  • Alice Carter Park
  • Arsenal Park
  • Bowman Park
  • Broad Ripple Park
  • Carson Park
  • Chapel Hill
  • Christian Park
  • Clayton LaSalle Park
  • Clermont Park
  • Eagle Creek Park
  • Edgewood Park
  • Ellenberger Park
  • Ellenberger Park Family Center
  • Fall Creek
  • Franklin Park
  • Frederick Douglass Park
  • Garfield Park
  • Grassy Creek
  • Gustafson Park
  • Haughville Park
  • Highland Park
  • Juan Solomon Park
  • Paul Ruster Park
  • Post Road Park
  • Raymond Park
  • Rev. Charles Williams Park
  • Rhodius Park
  • Riverside Park
  • Riverwood Park
  • Roselawn Park
  • Roselawn Park Potential Amenities
  • Sahm Park
  • Skiles Test Nature Park
  • Southside Park
  • Southwestway Park
  • Stamm Park
  • Tarkington Park
  • Taggart Memorial
  • Tolin Akeman Park
  • Urban Acres
  • Wildwood Park
  • Willard Park
  • Woollens Gardens

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