welcome! Our second Vision Plan community open house

The White River Vision Plan is a community-driven process in and Hamilton County to develop a holistic vision and comprehensive plan that explores the enormous potential of our river to enhance regional vibrancy, ecological integrity, livability and economic vitality.

The White River Vision Plan is a joint effort between the City of Indianapolis and Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. in partnership with Visit Indy’s philanthropic arm, Tourism Tomorrow, Inc. The Vision Plan would not be possible without the concerted efforts of our shareholder partners, the White River Alliance, Friends of the White River, and Reconnecting Our Waterways. Our study area Hamilton County and Indianapolis

Why plan regionally?

The Central White River ADAMS JACKSON WHITE RIVER study area is one mile wide US - 31 and extends for 58 miles from Lafayette Trace Park in Hamilton CLARE County to in Indianapolis. Between these parks, STRAWTOWN two counties and multiple cities, NORTH NOBLESVILLE neighborhoods, tributaries and major infrastructure systems lie US - 38 alongside the White River. This plan is an opportunity to better connect all of these individual US - 32 NOBLESVILLE WASHINGTON WAYNE elements together through the power of a river vision, creating a region that is stronger than the RIVER ROAD sum of its parts. I - 69

CARMEL

FISHERS CLAY US - 31 DELAWARE ELLER ROAD

KEYSTONE AT THE CROSSING

NORTH CENTRAL CASTLETON

MERIDIAN HILLS/ WILLIAMS CREEK CLEARWATER I - 465 WILLIAMS CREEK ALLISONVILLE

RAVENSWOOD DELAWARE TRAILS GLENDALE MERIDIAN HILLS

BROAD RIPPLE I - 69 CROWS NEST NORTH CROW’S NEST

MERIDIAN KESSLER CROW’SWYNNEDALE/ NEST SPRING HILL ROCKY RIPPLE LAWRENCE

HIGHWOODS ROCKY RIPPLE

EAGLEDALE SPRING HILLS I - 465 RIVERSIDE MARIAN-COLDWYNNEDALE SPRINGS I - 70

I - 65 INDIANAPOLIS I - 465 DOWNTOWN

NEAR WESTSIDE

WARREN PARK CUMBERLAND

NEAR SOUTHSIDE WEST INDIANAPOLIS I - 65

MAYWOOD GARFIELD PARK I - 70

MARS HILL NORTH PERRY

I - 465 BEECH GROVE

SUNSHINE GARDENS

VALLEY MILLS

LEGEND SOUTHERN DUNES White River WEST NEWTON HOMECROFT Mile Study Area Buffer

SOUTHPORT Incorporated Area Major Roads Rail

0 1 2 4 8 N MILES SCALE 1: 80,000 Phase One Our Process April - September 2018 The White River Vision Plan will Forecasting our journey together inventory past planning efforts, identify ownership along the river, development and mobility patterns, demographic and economic trends, and environmental systems. It includes research on ecological and hydrologic conditions and water quality along the river. Discovery Thank you for participating! Analyzing the River Today Find out more about what your OPEN HOUSE #1 communities had to say on our engagement board. Phase Two September - January 2019 We will develop a long list of destinations and opportunities based on our Phase One analysis and your ideas from this meeting. Programming and market research, and unique riverfront features and events will be considered. We will draw attention to areas of unusual ecological, historical, cultural, scientific or aesthetic significance.

Envision Hello and welcome back! We need you to help guide the Imagining Possibilities Vision and tell us your aspirations OPEN HOUSE #2 for the river. After today’s conversations, we will develop concepts, programs and designs for sites in both counties.

Phase Three January - May 2019 Action We hope to see you in January! Focusing on Implementation! We will ask for your reactions OPEN HOUSE #3 to the concept plans and draft plan recommendations.

The vision plan will provide guidance for the Central Indiana community to implement the plan ideas over time. We will share a draft plan document on our website for comments and submit a final plan in Spring, 2019.

For more information, visit our website: mywhiteriver.com What we heard You had a lot to say, and we were ready to listen!

Will the protection of the property rights of riparian owners, especially farmers, be a priority in the plan? Will the protection of the property rights of riparian owners, especially I am thrilled to hear that the White River farmers, be a priority in the plan? I am thrilled to hear that the White River is becoming a priority for the city! It is a is becoming a priority for the city! It is a huge resource and if done right, can be huge resource and if done right, can be I have many happy memories canoeing and another big draw to the city. another big draw to the city. fishing, and my parents even got married on an island on the river. I look forward to seeing the river become a sought-after destination. Phase One Participation Almost 200 people attended Top 5 responses public meetings, 900 people commented online, and 300 people participated in existing events. Over three-quarters of the comments proposed ideas for the White River. Responses in public meetings and online spanned a range of topics. Recreation ideas were the most talked about, followed by healthy growth opportunities and concerns about property and overdevelopment. 50 100 150

We are off to a great start in Phase Two! Phase One Participation So far, 520 people have taken How do you get to the river? the online survey. Over three-quarters of the Motorized boat comments proposed ideas for the 4% White River. Kayak, tube, canoe 11% Car The top ten destinations are: 36% #1 Indianapolis Canal and Cultural Trail #2 Indianapolis of Art #3 Broad Ripple Park #4 Indianapolis 20% Bicycle #5 #6 Holliday Park #7 Central Canal Tow Path #8 26% #9 Victory Field .5% Wheelchair #10 Walk/Run 1% Bus 2% Other A selection of responses to the My dream is for my question, In 5 to 10 years, what is your grandchildren to be able to I would like to see improved upkeep along the river, dream for the White River? How should it help farm the land I now farm better lighting, continued trail paths like the white grow and change, or what is important to river greenway. keep the same? I would to see river development It becomes a cultural hub along downtown Noblesville to support similar to 75-100 years ago restaurant and bars with outdoor seating. Framework Planning How will we plan for the future?

The White River Vision Plan uses a physical framework to help define a shared vision for the future White River. A framework is a strategy for an integrated vision, one that respects the varied nature of the river and the opporutnities that places along the river US - 31 present for the future. The CLARE following framework seeks to embrace and understand STRAWTOWN existing, vibrant communities to NORTH help make better decisions that NOBLESVILLE protect their shared legacy and US - 38 support healthy growth.

There are three US - 32 NOBLESVILLE emerging RIVER ROAD frameworks: I - 69

Reaches CARMEL There are six sections of the FISHERS river, each with a distinct US - 31 ELLER ROAD character that contribute to KEYSTONE AT the varied nature of the river THE CROSSING NORTH CENTRAL CASTLETON experience. MERIDIAN HILLS/ WILLIAMS CREEK CLEARWATER I - 465 ALLISONVILLE

RAVENSWOOD Anchors DELAWARE TRAILS GLENDALE

BROAD RIPPLE I - 69 Commercial corridors, CROWS NEST historic districts, and cultural MERIDIAN KESSLER WYNNEDALE/ destinations are catalysts for SPRING HILL new opportunities along this ROCKY RIPPLE

58-mile stretch. EAGLEDALE I - 465 RIVERSIDE MARIAN-COLD SPRINGS I - 70

I - 65 Flows INDIANAPOLIS I - 465 Hamilton County and have a strong NEAR WESTSIDE network of trails and NEAR SOUTHSIDE WEST INDIANAPOLIS roadways to and along I - 65

MAYWOOD the river. There are GARFIELD PARK opportunities to build on I - 70 the existing system and MARS HILL NORTH PERRY create a complete multi- I - 465 modal system that focuses SUNSHINE GARDENS on the river as a major VALLEY MILLS transportation corridor. LEGEND SOUTHERN DUNES White River WEST NEWTON Mile Study Area Buffer Incorporated Area Major Roads Rail

0 1 2 4 8 N MILES SCALE 1: 80,000 experience nature What opportunities do the River’s natural and engineered elements bring?

A Connected Waterway

The White River and its wide floodplains are essential ecological resources for the US - 31 STRAWTOWN KOTEEWI PARK region. They provide valuable habitat for wildlife, recreational Strawtown Koteewi Park amenities for people, and The wide floodplain of this free-flowing stretch drainage for a wide reaching of the River is flanked by extensive , grasslands and lowland forests including protected watershed. open space at Strawtown Koteewi Park. Human development, dam infrastructure and flood Riverwood Dam protection have critically US - 38 Below the dam, the River flows freely through a large floodplain with limited impacted these functions. development and unique lowland forest Rehabilitating the River’s and savanna-like ecology

health and function must US - 32 NOBLESVILLE

balance the need for security CICERO CREEK with the aspiration to restore key ecosystem services. CICERO CREEK The places circled on the map are key opportunities Conner Prairie I - 69 for investment to make the This free flowing stretch of river is river and its natural systems unaffected by dam pooling downstream.CARMEL The floodplain is developed but still healthier and safer. contains public and private open space FISHERS

and high quality wetlandUS - 31 habitats.

TOWN RUN TRIAL/FISHERS PARK

MARROTT PARK Broad Ripple I - 465 This developed stretch includes HOLLIDAY PARK opportunities to retrofit the Williams Creek and Broad Ripple Dams. It connects to intact mature forest Marrott Park Nature Preserve and Holliday Park.

VIRGINIA FAIRBANKS ART & NATURE PARK I - 465

I - 70

Downtown River I - 65 This excellent urban wildlife area includes INDIANAPOLIS dam retrofit opportunities at the 16th Street and Chevy Dams. The river is straddled by levees in this stretch.

LILLY RECREATION PARK I - 65

I - 70

LEGEND I - 465 White River Southwestway Park Mile Study Area Buffer The park provides an intact forest Major Roads with diverse plant communities from Rail wet meadow to lowland forest and 465 TO SOUTHPORT ROAD Flood Impact Areas oak-hickory forest. The River flows Natural Areas freely below the Harding Street Special Flood Hazard Area Dam through a wide floodplain. SOUTHWESTWAY PARK /MANN HILL Dam

0 1 2 4 8 N MILES SCALE 1: 80,000 Connect Communities How can we close remaining gaps for a truly connected experience?

Places to Connect

The White River is flanked by many transportation options, US - 31 including vehicular routes, pedestrian trails, bike routes and public transit. 234th Street Corridor Consider this high-traffic area route as a These systems, to varying potential multi-use trail linking Cicero, Arcadia degrees, link the surrounding and Atlanta to Anderson, with connections to Koteewi Park and Cumberland Drive through communities to the river. publicly owned lands Connections to the White River are strongest along the riverfront near Indianapolis and US - 38 Noblesville.

Providing access along the NOBLESVILLE US - 32 river is not appropriate in all Allisonville areas. New connections should Explore potential uses of this large be prioritized in areas of high area (~1,000 acres) west of the River between 146th and 170th Streets. need where land ownership Consider multi-modal improvements allows. 146th to 146th Street. I - 69 The places circled on the map are zones to consider CARMEL enhanced multi-modal connections to, on, across or FISHERS along the river. US - 31

I - 69

Broad Ripple Area Investigate overcoming the narrow right-of-ways that limit east-west connectivity between the numerous parks, river access points and other destinations in this busy district.

I - 465

Riverside Regional Park Understand how planned improvements to theI - 70 park and surrounding transportation network can better serve the community and connect to major east-west routes.

INDIANAPOLIS

I - 465 LEGEND White River

Well-Connected Area Mile Study Area Buffer

Major Roads Rail

Southwestway Park Area Existing Trail Evaluate options to enhance Trail Under Development connections to this large park and to Proposed Trail increase waterfront access through Bus Routes that Connect the undeveloped areas between the to the River park and downtown. Proposed Transit Corridors and Stations

0 1 2 4 8 N MILES SCALE 1: 80,000 Reveal History How does the river’s history teach us about its future?

Layers of Time The People’s The Powerful The Clear River River River The History of the White

River runs deep. It’s banks are Strawtown-Koteewi Park Strawtown Tavern Strawtown-Koteewi Park Strawtown Tavern lined with traces of ancient

indigenous settlements, Hamilton County Courthouse Square Potter's Covered Bridge Noblesville Commercial Historic District Potter's Covered Bridge early colonial history and the Conner Street Historic District South 9th Street Historic District Holliday Hydroelectric House/Dam region’s rise as an industrial Catherine Street Historic District center. These histories layer

upon one another to create House a rich tapestry of historical River Road Park River Road Park

narratives. West-Harris House The White River’s historical Marion County Bridge 0501F Marion County Bridge 0501F significance is directly Foster Hall tied to the water itself. Broad Ripple Fieldhouse As the People’s River, it Butler (Hinkle) Fieldhouse North Meridian Street Historic District has attracted hundreds of Irwin Library, Estate (IMA/Newfields) Crown Hill Allison, James, Mansion Heslar Naval Armory generations to dwell along Wheeler-Stokely Mansion Central Railroad Truss McCormick Cabin Site Illinois Central Railroad Truss its shores. As the Powerful Central Canal Central Canal Indiana State Capitol, the Statehouse River, it has been harnessed Washington Street - Monument Circle Historic District Indiana State Library and Historical Building and controlled to drive Madam C.J. Walker Building (NHL) Indiana Theatre industry. And as the Clear Apartments River, its once pure waters have provided a source of Southwestway Park Southwestway Park sustenance and navigation.

Focus Areas

Through in-depth inventory and analysis, we’ve identified the following five destinations as the most significant historic sites and districts within a mile of the river.

Conner Prairie Oldfields (Lilly House) This popular destination exhibits historic A 26-acre historic estate and gardens on the buildings from the early settlement era. grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Crown Hill Cemetery Central Indianapolis Noblesville A Victorian Romantic cemetery with ornate Multiple historic sites and districts of both A combination of four historic districts plus construction established in 1863. civic and private origins. many individually listed buildings. Get outdoors What activities can we build on for a more complete river experience?

An Active River

The White River provides a wide range of recreation opportunities. However, gaps exist in both the location US - 31 of these activities and the

1 seasons when they are offered. 3 2 4

5 The sites highlighted below Agrarian Landscape + Accessibility 6 have been identified as areas Near E 216th Street US - 38 8 with potential to expand 7 10 9 programming, public open

US - 32 space, and access on the 11 White River.

I - 69 12 13

14

15 US - 31 17 Refuse + Reuse + Recreation 16 Noblesville Landfill 18

I - 465 Commerce + Connectivity 20 21 I-465 and 86th Street 20 19 I - 69 23 25 24

27

28 26 Butler University 1 Lafayette Trace Park 24 I - 465 and Athletic Fields 30 2 Strawtown Koteewi Park 25 Central Canal/Trail 29 3 White River Campgrounds 26 Newfields 31 Nature + Infrastructure 4 Edge Adventure Park The Virginia B. Fairbanks 27 Art and Nature Park: 100 Acres I - 65 32 5 River Bend Campground Broad Ripple Dam 33 28 Lake Sullivan/Sports Complex 6 Riverwood Canoe Landing Taggart Riverside Park/ I - 465 34 36 29 Family Recreation Center 35 7 Potter’s Bridge Park 37 30 Lake Indy Boat Rip 8 Blatchely Nature 38 Study Club Municipal Gardens 39 31 Family Center 41 9 White River Nature + Infrastructure 40 Greenway Trail 32 Carroll Stadium 10 Forest Park Aquatic Center 33 Indianapolis Canal/ Cultural Trail Emerichsville Dam 11 White River Canoe Company 34 NCAA Hall of Champions I - 65 12 Conner Prairie 35 42 13 River Road Park 36 White River State Park 14 I - 70 River Heritage Park 37 15 Nonie Werbe Krauss Park 43 38 Victory Field 16 Heritage Park (Ambassador The Rock Flat at the House & Heritage Gardens) 39 17 White River I - 465 Hazel Landing Park 40 Lucas Oil Stadium 18 Town Run Trail Park Edison School of the Arts/ 41 Riley Park 19 Broad Ripple Park 42 Lilly Recreation Park 20 Marott Park 43 Southside Landfill/ 21 Brickman Educational Crossroads Greenhouse Trail Park 44 Southwestway Park 22 Holliday Park Public Program in the Floodplain 23 Friedman Park White River Greenway near IUPUI 44 River Resources I-465, Southside Industrial Landscapes

EVENT DESTINATION JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Seasonal Events on the Family Halloween Party Federal Hill Commons Wine Down with Art Federal Hill Commons Food Truck Friday's Federal Hill Commons White River Native American Village Tours Strawtown Koteewi Winter Solstice Taylor Center of Natural History Let's Talk Turkey Taylor Center of Natural History Potter's Bridge Festival Potter's Bridge Butterfly Kaleidoscope White River Gardens Special events and activities draw Zoo Boo Zoo Christmas at the Zoo Zoo visitors to the White River throughout Winterlights Newfields Connor Prairie by Candlelight Connor Prairie the year, though most events occur Chinese New Year Lantern Launch Riverside Park

ARTS AND CULTURES Summer Wonderland Beer Garden White River Gardens during the warmer spring and Zoolapalooza Zoo Pet Pride Riverside Park summer months. How many events Summer Nights Film Series Newfields Penrod Art Festival Newfields do you attend each year? Are there White River Festival White River State Park Taste of Broad Ripple Broad Ripple cool-season events that you would Concerts at the Commons Federal Hills Commons Flashback Friday's Federal Hills Commons like to see along the River? Indy Eleven Soccer Season Indy Eleven Football Season Lucas Oil Major Taylor Cross Cup Marion University Concerts on the Lawn White River State Park SPORTS AND Big Ten Football Championship Lucas Oil ENTERTAINMENT Symphony on the Prairie Connor Prairie Snowtubing Kowteewi Park Nature Play Days Various REC AND

PARKS PARKS Yoga in Holliday Park Holliday Park Express our identity How can we promote access to the River for everyone?

A Resource for Everyone

Access to the River’s many recreational and environmental resources improves the quality of life for residents. However, taking advantage of these Strawtown Milling and postal routes define the heritage of this amenities is difficult for some area along the river. Today, these neighborhoods people. Physical, economic have high poverty rates compared to the rest of and social barriers discourage the county. Sustaining the mix of land uses along this stretch of river and providing for community specific populations from economic health are priorities for this area. enjoying the White River. The map to the right combines several factors, such as income, age and race, that have historically limited equitable use of riverfront destinations. East Carmel The places circled on the map Carmel is one of the fastest growing are areas of high need and cities in Indiana. Its riverfront communities are also very diverse key opportunities to invest in and include large populations of strengthening access to River seniors and children. Places like amenities. East Carmel could provide unique river access opportunities to many generations of .

Eagledale, Marian-Cold Springs, Haughville, Near Westside Consider community economic development opportunities to support connections to jobs and invest in vacant land close to the river in these diverse, low-income neighborhoods.

LEGEND White River Mile Study Area Buffer Maywood, Mars Hill Valley Mills, West Major Roads Newton, Sunshine Gardens, North Perry Rail Provide safe connections for seniors and children Highest Need to parks and the river in these mixed income neighborhoods buffered from the river by major utilities and other industrial uses. Lowest Need

0 1 2 4 8 N MILES SCALE 1: 80,000