Mayor Joe Hogsett and Indy Parks announced the start of construction on a $2.8 million project at Franklin Township Community Park.
Funded through the Lilly Endowment Grant, improvements will include a new playground, pickleball and basketball courts and paved trails. The $80 million grant is providing improvements to 42 parks as part of the larger $140 million investment in Indy Parks.
“The work happening at Franklin Township Community Park marks the beginning of additional quality-of-life improvements coming to our Southside neighborhoods,” Hogsett said. “Soon, our residents in Franklin Township will be able to play and enjoy the outdoors in a new way by taking advantage of all the amenities coming to this park.”
Other projects include new pickleball courts at Chapel Hill and Tarkington Parks, a need identified in Indy Parks’ 2023 Comprehensive Master Plan.
“Investments like these ensure that Franklin Township continues to grow as a vibrant community,” said City-County Councilor Brian Mowery (District 25). “With new playgrounds, trails and courts, families and residents of all ages will have more opportunities to stay active and connected. I’m excited to see these improvements in our parks take shape and the positive impact they will have on our community.”
The plan also identified the city’s three southern townships as priorities for new park development. Franklin Township Community Park’s improvements are part of over $10 million being invested in southside parks.
“The coming improvements at Franklin Township Community Park will bring new, high quality park amenities to yet another community,” said Phyllis Boyd, Indy Parks director. “Thanks to the historic investment in Indy Parks, we are meeting the growing demand for recreation and fun across the city.”
For more information about public meetings and conversations about park improvements, visit parks.indy.gov.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
