Shook Construction Celebrates 30 Years with KIB: Transforming Northwest Landing GreenSpace

By: Benjamin Shine

In honor of their 30th anniversary, Shook Construction teamed up with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) for a special workday at the Northwest Landing GreenSpace. This event was not just about celebrating a milestone, but also about giving back to a community they care about—one they’ve helped uplift through their commitment to service and partnership.

Shook’s involvement with KIB’s AES Indiana Project GreenSpace is a perfect reflection of their mission: “dramatically improving the communities we serve”. 

“When it came to 30 years, we were like ‘how do we celebrate?’ So we went on a search,” said Adrienne Daniels, Shook’s Marketing and Communications Director. “Through that, we found out you guys (Keep Indianapolis Beautiful) turn 50 in ‘26 and we turn 100 in ‘26, so we thought maybe there is something we can do together!”

That spark led to a powerful collaboration, transforming vacant lots into vibrant, community-centered spaces. Through KIB’s Project GreenSpace, these spaces become parks, orchards, and more—designed by residents and landscape architects, and brought to life through volunteer labor and ongoing support from KIB.

The neighborhood itself also played a crucial role in bringing Northwest Landing GreenSpace to life. The Northwest Landing Neighborhood Association team, including Neighborhood Chair and President, Maunah Wadud, and several residents and neighbors, contributed valuable feedback and support throughout the project. Their collaboration has been essential in transforming this once-vacant lot into a vibrant community space.

Kelly Cook, KIB’s GreenSpace Program Director, was thrilled to see the partnership with Shook flourish. “It’s always inspiring to see organizations like Shook Construction truly embody their values by working side-by-side with the community. Their support at Northwest Landing made a real difference—not only in terms of the work accomplished, but in strengthening the neighborhood’s pride and connection.”

For Shook Construction, this partnership was a meaningful way to celebrate their legacy. Wesley, one of the volunteers, remarked, “We had an opportunity to meet up with KIB, and we love being a part of the community, so we’re glad we could come out here and help.” Rob, another volunteer, added, “We started conversations and fell in love with the greenspace idea, and now here we are.”

But perhaps one of the most heartwarming moments came from the community itself. Volunteers were greeted by residents who walked through the area, curious and excited about the transformation taking place. As one volunteer said, “It’s cool having neighbors come and talk to us. They walk through and ask what we’re doing.”

It’s moments like these that highlight the true impact of Project GreenSpace. Northwest Landing, one of Indianapolis’ oldest neighborhoods, is working to restore its vitality, and the efforts of partners like Shook Construction make that restoration possible.

As we look ahead, both KIB and Shook Construction are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2026, with KIB turning 50 and Shook reaching their 100th year. We look forward to exploring how this long-lasting partnership will continue to dramatically improve the communities we all care so deeply about.

About AES Indiana Project GreenSpace

AES Indiana Project GreenSpace turns vacant lots into community spaces such as parks, orchards, and outdoor classrooms. Selected applicants work with KIB and landscape architects to create a design that captures the spirit and pride of their neighborhood. The designs are implemented through volunteer workdays, hired contractors, and KIB staff. With ongoing maintenance support through KIB’s GreenSpace Sustainability Program, these spaces remain beautiful and functional for years to come.

Can’t find a greenspace near you? We create 3 – 5 new spaces each year by partnering with neighbors like you. Our application is open to all as long as the property is publicly accessible, once implemented the space can have a lifespan of at least 10 years, and the applying party recruits a minimum of 5 GreenSpace committee members.

Do you have any questions about AES Indiana Project GreenSpace? Please get in touch with our GreenSpace Program Director, Kelly Cook at kcook@kibi.org.

Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Engaged Citizens, Partners, Volunteers