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Is that the John Snell of Indianapolis Life fame? If so, Tammy and I say hello and hope everything has gone well for you.
Indy is ranked dead last among major cities when it comes to parks and parkland, and studies show just how important parks are to the well being of residents. Maybe this is one reason so many Indy people are mentally ill. Here’s a thought. Close the courses and let nature reclaim them. No maintenance, which fits nicely with the local ethos. Win-win!
This entire golf course closure and redevelopment plan deserves far greater scrutiny in terms of costs, transparency, and methodology that it has received this far. This nearly $300,000 report dates to last November, and followed the prior decision to close both South Grove and Riverside. Its assessment of the golf industry is outdated. Yes, participation declined nationwide since 2000 (nearly 20 years ago) but has since stabilized and saw an uptick last year, most notably in the number of new golfers. Course closures owed mainly to suburban housing development schemes gone awry, not to municipal urban gems like Riverside whose clientele is predominantly working class and heavily African American. Where will these golfers go? Moreover, the city courses still generate net revenues, unlike other parks. As the report notes: “They have managed to operate the 13 [public golf] facilities without creating a drain on the Indy Parks budget or a situation requiring cash subsidies from the City. It is also important to note that the facilities are in relatively good physical condition.” As for the rosy future of ziplines and new ball fields, check out the plan here: https://www.riversideparkplan.com/. Go see Riverside Park today to observe Indy Parks’s record on park maintenance – such as the overgrown ball fields evident only by the metal backstops. View the empty tennis courts each weekend. Ride the decrepit bike path along the greenway. Then think hard about replacing historic golf courses within minutes of downtown with the proposed $130+ million redevelopment plan (go to link above, download Master Plan, see page 99+ for cost details).
The Master Plan for Riverside Park appeared to be a foregone conclusion – drafted by Rialto – before going ‘public’. Nonetheless an online survey is still available: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RiversideRegionalPark
The master plan shows retaining a portion of the golf course, but utilizing the other land for other uses. I agree with the assessment that Indy Parks has a history of poor maintenance and that issue needs to be addressed before doing anything with the land. However, far too much of the riverfront is currently occupied by the golf course. It appears the master plan flips that, giving priority access to every day users instead of the paid few who are playing golf.
The plan calls for closing two of three courses, and retaining the practice facility with its 9-hole par 3 course. The issue of riverfront access is a great point and one they highlighted in the public meetings. But it’s not accurate. Only two of Riverside’s 18 holes even run parallel to the river, and both are separate from it by the fairly well trafficked road. Currently, the greatest stretch of riverfront passes right through the existing Riverside Park (and then along part of the South Grove golf course). But aside from two small parking lots with boat ramps it is inaccessible. Why not just let Indy Parks start with the complete renovation of the existing park before investing well more than $100 million on their grand design? Will resident really flock to the ball fields and tennis courts set to replace South Grove, given zero use of current facilities? Only time will tell but currently the golf courses sit in a sparsely populated corner of the central city so hard to imagine a transformation into a ecopark attracting even more visitors.
Hey there! Just seeing this article through research I’ve been doing, and was wondering if anybody would have a good number to contact any of these closing courses about their putting green surfaces/equipment. Thank you in advance!