By DARIAN BENSON
Indy Parks has installed high speed wi-fi at 19 facilities. The department plans to set up wi-fi at 10 more locations by the end of summer.
The initiative is funded by $500,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act and is in collaboration with the Information Services Administration.
Indy Parks said offering public wi-fi will allow facilities to host more community events, expand program offerings and provide spaces for students that support learning.
“By equipping the vast majority of Indy Parks locations with public wi-fi, students from every Indianapolis household can now have free access to a critical tool for their education,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a news release. “And residents of every age will be able to enjoy enhanced public services as a result of this massive technology upgrade.”
The initiative will also improve Indy Parks staff wi-fi. Once the project is completed, 98% of Indy Parks facilities will have public internet access.
“Our Indy Parks serve as vital public spaces for our community, which is why continued investments and improvements are essential,” City-County Council Parks Committee Chairman Jared Evans said in a news release. “The initiative to have wi-fi in parks will improve residents’ access to digital resources and enhance their overall park experience by catering to their needs for connectivity and information.”
Wi-Fi installations have been completed at these park facilities:
- Broad Ripple Family Center
- Brookside Family Center
- Eagle Creek: Earth Discovery Center
- Chuck Klein Softball Complex
- Stanley Strader Family Center
- Ellenberger Family Center
- Garfield Family Center
- Krannert Family Center
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
- Municipal Gardens
- Perry Pool/Ice Rink
- Pride Family Center
- Rhodius Family Center
- Christian Park
- Riverside Family Center
- World Sports Park
- Watkins Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center
These locations are expected to have wi-fi installed by the end of summer:
- Bel Aire Park
- Eagle Creek Park Crest
- Eagle Creek Park Hideaway
- Glenn’s Valley Park
- Juan Solomon Park
- Indianapolis World Sports Park
- Washington Park
- Windsor Village Park
- Frederick Douglass Park
- Thatcher Park
