Task 1 Report: Inventory & Peer Research
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Task One Inventory & Peer Research In this task, the team developed an understanding for existing context, current trends, planned projects, and jurisdiction/stakeholder priorities along the White River. The team evaluated previous and ongoing planning efforts to ensure this plan provides a comprehensive vision for the corridor. The following pages detail our understanding of the current conditions and plans for the river. Core Team DEPARTMENT OF METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT HAMILTON COUNTY TOURISM, INC. VISIT INDY RECONNECTING TO OUR WATERWAYS Project Team AGENCY LANDSCAPE & PLANNING APPLIED ECOLOGICAL SERVICES, INC. CHRISTOPHER B. BURKE ENGINEERING ENGAGING SOLUTIONS FINELINE GRAPHICS HERITAGE STRATEGIES HR&A ADVISORS, INC. LANDSTORY LAND COLLECTIVE PORCH LIGHT PROJECT PHOTO DOCS RATIO ARCHITECTS SHREWSBERRY TASK ONE: INVENTORY & PEER RESEARCH Table of Contents Executive Summary - 4 Reveal History - 14 Express Identity - 32 Experience Nature - 52 Get Outdoors - 96 Connect Communities - 124 Permitting Review - 142 Review of Past Planning Efforts - 152 Inventory of Partners, Organizations, and Initiatives - 174 Resources and Endnotes - 178 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A Shared Asset It is a time of growth and change for communities along the White River. While development in downtowns is accelerating and arts and cultural institutions are expanding their visions, the White River is the region’s next frontier. Long invisible, the river is awakening from an extended period of underutilization and ecological degradation and transforming into an economic and community amenity. The river is a powerful, unifying and timeless flow. Reclaimed and enhanced, it can be a beacon of stewardship, a healthy contributor to the area’s economy and a tool for the betterment of the lives of the region’s residents. The White River Vision Plan is a community driven process in Hamilton County and Indianapolis 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 eort between the City of Indianapolis and Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. in partnership with Visit Indy’s philanthropic arm, Tourism Tomorrow, Inc. to develop a coordinated regional plan, together with the community, to enhance 58 miles of the White River in Marion and Hamilton counties. The goal of the vision plan is to create an accessible, recreational, and cultural environment that encourages a unique sense of place for the community as a whole. WHITE RIVER VISION PLAN TASK ONE REPORT - 5 The White River Vision Plan will promote: Connected communities with access to the Places along the water that reveal history White River for residents and visitors — our and contribute to our shared cultural two largest, most important audiences; heritage and legacy; Opportunities to experience nature and The freedom to express our identity and enhance the environmental value and highlight the diversity of our communities ecological quality of the river corridor, on the river and economic strength of our including its water quality and natural region; and habitats; A path forward that solidifies the role of New ways to get outdoors and visit the river in our everyday lives and stewards attractions, arts and entertainment our future around this shared asset. venues, hiking and biking trails, and neighborhoods; 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Call to Action The Indianapolis region is known for its abilities to set its collective sights on transformational change and rally together around a shared vision. The White River Vision Plan calls for both ambitious planning and a regional commitment to implementing change. Looking ahead, achieving these goals will require the following commitments: Cooperate Regionally A river’s environmental health and quality is a reflection of the community’s commitment. Today for the White River, the picture is muddy. Water quality challenges and flood dynamics are just two of the critical problems that face the region – neither of which can be fully addressed at the local scale. Environmental challenges like these require watershed- scaled thinking and regional cooperation. The White River Vision Plan is the region’s opportunity to move the dial on river health – bringing together the benefits and passions of ongoing initiatives (like Dig Indy) and partners (like the White River Alliance and Reconnecting to Our Waterways) under one unified vision and implementation roadmap. Shift the Mindset In surveying the river’s physical landscape and conversing with the community, one thing is abundantly clear: The river has been largely “invisible” in the daily life of residents for decades. Although connections between human health and river health are well-known to aware users and likely intuitive to even non- users, this interconnectedness is not yet resulting in positive interactions in day-to-day life. This planning process and its outcomes can unlock the river for the community, promoting more frequent visual, physical and symbolic engagement. Only when loved, remembered, and stewarded by the community can the river truly be reclaimed. A mindset shift is necessary. WHITE RIVER VISION PLAN TASK ONE REPORT - 7 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Ensure Future core to the industrial south, we have identified up to four typical cross sections, each with Competitiveness dierent opportunities and challenges, and While the region’s recent decades have been a broad spectrum of passionately expressed marked by growth and economic prosperity, and unique community perspectives. This our research demonstrates that workforce diversity of place allows for an incredible aged population is actually declining. For the range of experience and qualities – from quiet region to maintain economic competitiveness, naturalized stretches to intensely programmed it must oer an exceptionally high quality places. Seasonal change – of weather, of of life and be a desirable place for all, but water flows, of color and light – extends this particularly young professionals and families. diversity into a seemingly endless palette of The river is a character defining natural experience. resource for the region; yet, it remains largely untapped for its recreational and Cultivate an Inclusive Vision cultural benefits. Opening the river to greater The first steps of the White River Vision recreational use will also support attracting Plan process engaged a broad spectrum and retaining a strong workforce, enhance of residents, visitors and stakeholders. We tourism, and improve quality of life for reached out and connected to the partners, residents, workers and visitors alike. institutions and advocates already engaged in the good work of river reclamation and those Take Strategic Advantage of that might benefit from more engagement. Diversity This eort will help ignite passions in those currently unaware of the river and harness The White River Vision Plan’s study area, the power of those already advocating. It can multi-jurisdictional and reflective of many put words and pictures the shared ambitions, dierent physical and cultural conditions, illuminate the areas of potential conflict and oers an exceptionally broad canvas. From the strengthen capacity for future change. rural north to suburban villages to the urban WHITE RIVER VISION PLAN STUDY AREA WHITE RIVER MAJOR ROADS MILE STUDY BUFFER INCORPORATED AREA WHITE RIVER VISION PLAN TASK ONE REPORT - 9 US - 31 STRAWTOWN US - 38 CLARE NORTH NOBLESVILLE US - 32 NOBLESVILLE RIVER ROAD I - 69 FISHERS CARMEL CARMEL FISHERS ELLER ROAD KEYSTONE AT THE CROSSING I - 465 NORTH CENTRAL CASTLETON MERIDIAN HILLS/ WILLIAMS CREEK I - 69 CLEARWATER IVY HILLS DELAWARE TRAILS GLENDALE WARFLEIGH ARDEN BROAD RIPPLE CROWS NEST RAVENSWOOD MERIDIAN KESSLER WYNNEDALE/ SPRING HILL ROCKY RIPPLE BUTLERTARKINGTON CROWN HILL EAGLEDALE I - 465 RIVERSIDE MARIANCOLD SPRINGS I - 70 HAUGHVILLE DOWNTOWN NEAR WESTSIDE STRINGTOWN INDIANAPOLIS NEAR SOUTHSIDE WEST INDIANAPOLIS I - 465 GARFIELD PARK MAYWOOD MARS HILL NORTH PERRY I - 74 SUNSHINE GARDENS I - 70 VALLEY MILLS I - 65 0 1 2 4 6 SOUTHERN DUNES WEST NEWTON N Miles 10 Engagement period. The White River Vision Plan’s public engagement strategy included: The transformation of the White River must be shaped by desires and aspirations of Hamilton Appointed committee and task force County and Indianapolis’ residents, property representation owners, developers, and regional visitors, working together with governmental agencies In-person community conversations and other key partners. Public meetings and attendance at community events In the first phase of the White River Vision Plan, stakeholders reflected on their Project website experiences on and along the river and voiced Social media concerns and ideas for its future. A wide variety of stakeholders from throughout A detailed summary of engagement eorts the two counties participated online and in and outputs begins on page 16 of the full Task person to the plan during the three-month One report and in What We Heard sections of the Vision Theme chapters. RECREATION AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT WERE AMONG THE TOP THEMES FROM PHASE ONE OUTREACH EFFORTS. WHITE RIVER VISION PLAN TASK ONE REPORT - 11 I am thrilled to hear that the White River is becoming a priority for the city! It is a huge resource and if done right, can be another big draw to the city. Will the protection of the property rights of riparian owners, especially farmers, be a priority in the plan? PUBLIC MEETING