Lilly Endowment will distribute four grants totaling $80 million, most of which will go toward park improvements. The grants will also support the Eagle Creek Park Foundation, Friends of Garfield Park and the Holliday Park Foundation.
City and community leaders gathered inside of Washington Park’s community center Jan. 10, where the president of Lily Endowment, Jennett Hill, made the announcement.
More than $71 million will go toward improvements at 42 parks across the Indy Park system; $2.6 million will go to the Eagle Creek Park Foundation; $2.5 million will go to Friends of Garfield Park; and $3 million will go to the Holliday Park Foundation. The funding will be used for improvements to each location.
Park projects include:
● $5.2 million for Frederick Douglass Park to support construction of a new playground, multi-use synthetic sports fields and office furnishings.
● $3.5 million for Washington Park to help replace the central playground, which was built in 1995, and add a new splash pad, shelter, parking lot and comfort station.
● $11.55 million for Riverside Regional Park for new sidewalks and nature trails, enhancements along White River, upgrades to the soap box derby track and development of the Taggart Memorial Playground.
Find a map of project locations here.
According to a press release, the project design and construction schedule will run through 2025.
According to Hill, Indy Parks put together a group of residents to give input on what they wanted with in their parks. Feedback included more amenities such as water spray grounds, comfort stations, refreshment facilities and sports fields.
“Parks have the ability to impact and enrich our lives,” Indy Parks Director Phyllis Boyd said during the press conference. “Parks connect us to each other. They provide places to play, learn, enjoy the arts, take a fitness class, attend day camps and so much more.”
In early 2021, the city launched a $45 million investment called Circle City Forward for Indy Parks upgrades, including $20 million for Frederick Douglass Park’s new family center. In a statement, Mayor Joe Hogsett said that funding, coupled with the Lilly Endowment grants, sends “a clear message about the fundamental role a well-funded park can play in a healthy community.”
“Today’s announcement continues a streak of transformative investments for our city’s public parks,” Hogset said.
Hogsett said the grant is 14 times the annual parks capital budget.
In 2017 Indy Parks launched a five-year plan that prioritizes parks based on diversity, high visitation, park conditions and demographics such as race and income.
“There will always be a need to do more and invest more in our parks,” Indianapolis City-County Council member Duke Oliver said at the announcement. “And this $80 million gift from Lilly Endowment will allow us to do just that.”
Contact staff writer Timoria Cunningham at 317-762-7854 or timoriac@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @ _timoriac.
