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Parks board approves near‑equal land swap with Indianapolis Public Schools to expand Southside Park
Summary
The board approved a property exchange with Indianapolis Public Schools that will add roughly two acres to Southside Park while transferring a similar parcel to IPS for school use.
The Indianapolis Board of Parks and Recreation voted Jan. 21 to approve a transfer exchange of property between the parks department and Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) that will add about two acres to Southside Park and transfer a near‑equal parcel to IPS.
Don Coven, deputy director for Indy Parks’ Resource Development Division, presented the proposal and cited local code authority for the action. "Section 241‑204 e section 5 of the code allows the Parks Board and gives Parks Board the authority to approve the acquisition of real estate," Coven said; he also cited "Code 36‑1‑11‑8" as authorizing a transfer exchange of property between governmental agencies.
Coven said the swap would add 2.17 acres to Southside Park in exchange for a 2.08‑acre parcel the school controls, creating a connection from the park to the neighborhood south of Pleasant Run Creek and giving Howell Middle School control of the land adjacent to its football field. Coven said the exchange was prompted in part by Lilly Endowment investment in the renovation of Southside Park and that IPS had already approved the transaction through IPS resolution number 8,045 on Oct. 30.
Board members asked for details about existing improvements, pedestrian bridges and how the newly added land might be used. Coven said there are no park improvements on the south side of Pleasant Run Creek — the department currently maintains grass — and that a pedestrian bridge crossing the creek would remain in place but was outside the parcel being transferred. He said park staff expect the added land to support trail connections and additional field space and that the department would likely include a connection in future bids as an alternate when building the playground, parking lot, shelter and splash pad on the main park parcel.
A board member moved to approve resolution number 1; a second followed and the board voice vote carried. The board chair said, "The ayes have it." The swap was presented as a near‑even exchange (2.17 acres vs. 2.08 acres) and the proposal noted IPS had previously adopted a supporting resolution.
