Indianapolis parks board approves land transfers, playground and fountain projects; Friends of Garfield Park seek maintenance endowment

The Board of Parks and Recreation for the Consolidated City of Indianapolis on April 22 approved a series of land transfers, contract awards and change orders for park projects across the city and heard a presentation from the Friends of Garfield Park about a rebuilt fountain and ongoing fundraising.

Board chair and parks director Phyllis Boyd called the meeting to order and introduced the items. Senior planner Ben Jackson asked the board to accept a donated parcel at 10314 Maumee Drive, describing it as "a segment of the property at, 10314 Maumee Drive" needed for the Grassy Creek Greenway corridor; the board approved the recommendation as Resolution No. 6.

The board approved transferring several parcels along Winthrop Avenue (the area described in the meeting as "the Bulge," adjacent to the Monon and west of Douglas Park) from the Department of Parks and Recreation to the Department of Metropolitan Development, contingent on an agreement with DMD that a developer set aside four acres for a public dog park. Principal planner Andre Denman told the board that "we do have an agreement with DMD, that any developer that, develops this site, will, make a public dog park, set aside for acres." The board approved that transfer as Resolution No. 7.

On construction and professional services, the board authorized a not-to-exceed $71,500 design contract with Schmidt Associates to prepare construction documents to convert the westernmost field at Coontz Soccer Stadium to artificial turf; Andre Denman said the work and future construction would be funded through Lilly Endowment grant dollars. The board also awarded RFB 17 DPR-311 for splash pad improvements at Dewberry Park to Tristler Construction Company Inc. in the lump-sum amount of $447,000, and awarded RFB 17 DPR-309 for Taggart Memorial Playground improvements at Riverside Park to Boyle Construction Management Inc. in the lump-sum amount of $1,110,000.

The board approved final change order No. 2 for the Group A ARPA playground renovations with Tristler Construction, increasing the contract by $20,264.94 for a new total of $1,030,290.09 and adding 150 days to the contract schedule (new substantial completion March 30, 2025; final completion April 30, 2025). Chad Arnold of Myers Construction briefed the board on change order No. 4 for a large Riverside project, explaining some of the added work (detention basin rework, additional weed/thistle treatment, gating for parking lot management and utility permit work); the board authorized change order No. 4 in the amount of $115,492. Arnold said the project covers roughly 150 acres and represents an approximately 1% increase on the overall contract value.

During discussion of the Riverside close-out, Arnold reported that "we encountered a ton of thistle on-site," explaining that chemical treatment over multiple seasons was necessary to control the invasive plant and that some extra work to improve infiltration at detention basins had been required where clay soils prevented drainage. Board members asked about minority participation data for construction contracts; staff read verified Office of Minority and Women in Business Development participation percentages for the Taggart Playground contract at the board's request.

In a separate presentation, Libby Heiple, executive director of the Friends of Garfield Park, and Scott Schappert of Smock Fansler updated the board on the sunken garden and Conservatory Plaza fountain reconstruction. Heiple described the work as a complete overhaul of the three fountain basins and vault, with new pumping systems, lighting and restored "dancing water." She said the total budget for the fountains is approximately $2,500,000 and that the Friends are still raising about $575,000 to establish a maintenance endowment so the fountains can be opened, closed and maintained in perpetuity. "Our goal with this project...is ultimately we want this project to be done right, and we want it to be maintained forever," Heiple told the board.

The meeting included other routine approvals and announcements: Jonathan George was introduced as the new Indy Parks chief financial officer; staff announced the Grassy Creek Environmental Community Center and Nature Playground is scheduled to open May 20; and the board confirmed its next meeting for May 20, 2025, at 4 p.m. in CCB Room T221.

Votes at a glance: Resolution No. 6 (accept land donation, 10314 Maumee Drive) — approved; Resolution No. 7 (transfer parcels along Winthrop Ave to DMD with four-acre dog park set-aside) — approved; Memo No. 12 (Schmidt Associates design contract, NTE $71,500) — approved; Memo No. 13 (Dewberry Park splash pad award to Tristler Construction, $447,000) — approved; Memo No. 14 (Taggart Memorial Playground award to Boyle Construction, $1,110,000) — approved; Memo No. 15 (final change order No. 2 to Group A Tristler contract, +$20,264.94 and +150 days) — approved; Memo No. 16 (change order No. 4 with Myers Construction, $115,492) — approved.

Why this matters: The approvals fund new and renovated play spaces, a new splash pad and infrastructure work that affect several neighborhoods (East Side, Riverside area, Douglas Park corridor and Garfield Park). The Friends of Garfield Park emphasized the need for an endowment to fund long-term maintenance of historic fountain infrastructure, noting capital investment without sustainable maintenance funding risks future deterioration.

Looking ahead: Staff will return with clarifications requested by the board (for example, who will maintain the dog park once developed) and the Friends of Garfield Park will continue capital fundraising and seek introductions for the remaining $575,000 maintenance endowment.