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Ashland Neighborhood Park:
As with many newer subdivisions, the developer of Ashland set aside land for
a community park, but did not build any park facilities. Keep Indianapolis
Beautiful will work with the neighborhood and a volunteer landscape
architect to design and build park facilities for the residents of the
neighborhood. This may include building a fitness trail along a corridor of
land set aside when the houses were built.
Massachusetts Avenue:
Davlan Park sits on the site of the Empire Block Building, built in 1971
by Lewis Shively, on the corner of Massachusetts/Alabama. In 1914, The
Davlan building was built, surrounding the Empire Block Building.
The Empire Block Building was demolished in the 1940’s, and the site was
turned into a parking lot. In 1972 The Davlan was turned into low income
and elderly housing. At this time the parking lot was turned into a small
park. From the Indianapolis Star, 12/5/71:
“Plans call for use of a half-block along Massachusetts Avenue where the
Davlan Apartments are located to crease a grass and tree lines mall
walkway with stores located in a courtyard surrounded by the modernized
apartment building. A deteriorated parking lot and two billboards now are
located where the mall will be.”
In 1999, the Riley Area Development Corporation, in partnership with
Monument Management, renovated The Davlan, and opened it in 2000. Storrow
Kinsella Associates Inc. were contracted to re-design the park. New
walkways, a serpentine sitting wall, sitting areas, a dumpster enclosure,
plantings, trees, and other amenities were added. The park won a Merit
Award in Landscape Architecture/Design and Development in 2004.
This project day is to complete the master plan for the landscaping for
the park project with volunteers and our partners from Riley Area and
Indianapolis Downtown Incorporated. We will be planting perennial flower
beds mostly, replacing one tree, re-grading and re-seeding some of the
lawn, and spreading mulch. Volunteers will also be planting annuals in the
many planting beds the length of Mass Ave.
Paige Booker Park:
In the RMS10 Neighborhood (bounded by Rural, Michigan,
Sherman, and 10th Streets), we have created a park dedicated to an infant
who died of a heart defect when she was 7 weeks old. This park strives to
celebrate the young life while memorializing a life loved shortly.
To draw ones thoughts to the more noble parts of our humanity, the park will
be ringed with trees that express the nobility of nature. These were planted
in November of 2006. To draw the mind to reflection on the brevity of life,
the park will contain a water feature and possible some public art that
represents the namesake of the park.
To enliven the child, and the childlike, a play area with equipment for 5-12
year old children will be placed at the heart of the park. To remind all
that the purpose of life is the lives we share, the west side of the park
will be dedicated to be a gathering place with a vine covered shade shelter
and cooking facilities. All together, the park will draw the community to
the heart of their lives, their children, their friends, and their families.
The final construction day was Saturday, June 23rd, 2007. We bolted
together the three playground pieces, assembled benches and planters, and
celebrated the park with a dedication ceremony at lunch.
See Pictures.
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West Indianapolis
Development Corporation School 46 Park (2006 - 2008): We
are building a pocket park on the grounds of IPS #46 for use by both the
school and families of the surrounding neighborhood. Some playground
equipment will be moved around, and some sports courts will be built on the
north side of the school for older neighborhood kids, leaving land to the
south of the school for the park area and a playground for the smallest
kids. There is very little plant material on the grounds of the school now,
so that was the focus of this park for 2006. Trees and other landscaping
will add shade and screen the area from the street. Benches or tables will
make this area usable as an outdoor classroom. Possibly a grill and picnic
shelter added in future years will make the area welcoming for neighbors.
The school had a contest to have the students design the park, to create the
master plan for this multi-year project, which was completed by Jonathon
Bonham, a volunteer landscape designer. Volunteers from Lilly Technical Center and EDS helped build
the first phase of the park. See
pictures.
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