Officials from the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee and other organizations broke ground recently on the Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center and Indianapolis Youth Education Town (YET).
The facility is part of the Host Committee’s Near Eastside Legacy initiative, which also includes housing redevelopment and East 10th Street business development.
Hillary Williams and E’Jaaz Collins, two of the students from Indianapolis Public Schools who originally delivered the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl bid to NFL team owners in 2008, turned the first dirt to start the building process.
“Today marks an exciting cornerstone for Indianapolis and the Near Eastside community,” said Mark Miles, chairman of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. “Community members have seen backhoes working on 10th Street and crews working on housing redevelopment. Now, they can start to watch this Legacy Center grow into a facility that embodies the spirit and energy of this neighborhood.”
The 27,000-square-foot facility will be housed on the campus of Arsenal Technical High School. The John H. Boner Community Center will partner with IPS to coordinate neighborhood programming including community youth leagues and educational programs in math, science, technology, literacy, arts, and fitness.
Other improvements planned after the 2012 Super Bowl on the campus include installing a new fieldturf football field and re-surfacing the track inside the football stadium.
“Students on campus will benefit from the expanded opportunities this center will offer,” added IPS Superintendent Eugene White. “This is one more step for this campus to be in the community and to be of the community.”
“Through the Super Bowl bid process, each local Host Committee commits to the creation of a lasting legacy of the game,” explained Lynda Hamilton, manager of NFL charities. “The Indianapolis Youth Education Town will be housed in the progressive new Near Eastside Legacy Center, which puts it in excellent position to positively impact the lives of the 40,000 residents who have no similar facility in the area.” Youth Education Towns currently exist in previous Super Bowl host cities across America and work to positively connect and empower youth in the neighborhoods they serve.
Community organizations, seeing the need and benefit of building this facility on the Near Eastside, have contributed $11.2 million to build and maintain it.
“Our Near Eastside residents have worked for years to revitalize and stabilize our community,” added James Taylor, chief executive officer of the John H. Boner Community Center. “We have community leaders whose vision is becoming reality through strong partnerships like these. As our neighborhood prospers from these improvements, we will see lasting benefits for generations to come.”
For more information, visit www.indianapolissuperbowl.com.
Source: 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee
