Indy parks embark on $8 million in upgrades

The Indianapolis Parks Foundation on Tuesday announced an $8 million plan to improve 16 parks in Marion County.

Construction and renovation projects for the 16 parks will rely predominantly on funds provided to IPF by the Lilly Endowment, but also will include grants from The Finish Line Inc., Pacers Sports & Entertainment, United Water, Indianapolis Power & Light Co. and 3Mgives.

The Lilly Endowment awarded IPF, a not-for-profit that raises private funding for the city parks system, a $10 million grant at the end of 2012 for partial funding of capital improvements and park programming. The grant was the largest gift IPF had received in 20 years, and is now being used over a three-year period that started in 2013..

The first round of the 40 projects includes renovations to playgrounds, trails, water spray grounds, courts and permanent restrooms and shelters. The second round is being developed for 2015 with similar park improvements.

“These great investments in Indy Parks and the many other quality-of-life improvements we are making in our city each contribute to making our neighborhoods more attractive places for people to live,” Mayor Greg Ballard said in a statement.

The parks where improvements will be made:

• Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Drive
Renovate: outdoor basketball court

• Olin Park, 702 N. Olin Ave.
Renovate: outdoor basketball court.

• 61st & Broadway Park, 6051 N. Broadway St.
Install: permanent restroom.

• Bertha Ross Park, 3700 Clifton St.
Install: shelter and water spray ground; Upgrade: playground equipment; Renovate and relocate: basketball court.

• Haughville Park, 605 N. Belleview Pl.
Install: parking lot and shelter; Upgrade: water spray ground and playground equipment.

• Dubarry Park, 3698 Dubarry Road
Install: shelter, permanent restroom and playground; Convert: tennis courts to basketball.

• Greene Park, 1700 N. Franklin Road
Install: water spray ground; Expand: parking lot; Upgrade: playground equipment.

• Wildwood Park, 8100 Southeastern Ave.
Install: playground, water spray ground, permanent restroom, parking lot and sidewalks.

• Gardner Park 6900 E. 46th St.
Renovate: walking trail and basketball courts; Upgrade: playground equipment.

• Stout Field Park, 3820 W. Bradbury Ave.
Install: water spray ground, permanent restroom and shelter; Upgrade: playground equipment and walking trail.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1702 N. Broadway St.
Upgrade: playground equipment and shelter.

• Bel Aire Park, 2915 S. Tibbs Ave.
Install: permanent restroom, soccer field and shelter; Upgrade: playground equipment.

• Frank & Judy O’Bannon Soccer Park, 1001 E. 16th St.
Renovate: irrigation and fields; Install: permanent restroom.

• Eagle Creek Park, 5901 Delong Road
Install: geothermal pond at Earth Discovery Center.

• Tarkington Park, 45 W. 40th St.
Install: shelters; Upgrade: playground equipment.

• Chuck Klein Softball Complex, 4702 Rockville Road
Facility renovation in partnership with the City of Indianapolis.