A new environmental center and more than 100 acres of green space are coming to Indianapolis’s far eastside, through a $15 million investment in Grassy Creek Regional Park.
The park is now one of the city’s largest, with 175 acres of fields, woods and wetlands.
The upgrades include a new building focused on nature and the environment. District 14 councilor La Keisha Jackson said the space will serve as a hub for the community.
“For families and young people to come together and learn and have fun and educational experiences,” Jackson said. “By creating more opportunities like this, we can keep youth engaged and steer them away from negative influences.”
The park currently features a playground, splash pad and sports fields on the south end. The new additions will be on the east side of the park along German Church Road.
A combination of $7 million from the Circle City Forward Initiative and $5 million from a Lilly Endowment gift will fund the construction.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said additional investment from the city more than tripled park size.
“Not only are we adding facilities, the park itself is getting larger,” Hogsett said. “The city provided nearly $3 million for a 119 acre expansion.”
Far Eastside Community Council president Samantha Douglass said this is the type of development needed in the community, which includes many residential areas.
“We need more than just a place to lay our head – we need places to play, to learn, to connect, to spend time with each other,” Douglass said.
The center will include a bird-watching area and rentable multipurpose rooms. The new playground will feature a treehouse structure, a bird outlook, and an accessible sensory tunnel. New trails will also be added throughout the existing park.
Completion is set for the summer of 2024.
