The City of Indianapolis and Hamilton County will hold the first round of public meetings July 11 and 12 for the White River Vision Plan, a comprehensive and coordinated regional, community-driven plan to enhance 58 miles of the largest river in Central Indiana. Leaders from throughout the Central Indiana region will be joined by design team members to present analysis findings, gather feedback and input from community members, and discuss progress of the plan. Meetings will be held at the following times and locations:
- 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 at Noblesville City Hall, 16 S. 10th St.
- Noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 12 at Marian University’s Paul J. Norman Center. The Center is located on the north end of the campus across from Allison Mansion, 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis
- 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 12 at Riverside Park Family Center Auditorium, 2420 E. Riverside Drive, Indianapolis
The White River Vision Plan is being developed to promote access to the river for residents and visitors. The plan will explore ways to connect the city to attractions, arts and entertainment venues, hiking and biking trails and neighborhoods. It will also propose educational and thematic recreational water experiences and take into account environmental value and ecological quality of the river corridor, including its water quality and natural habitats.
Community partners and stakeholders will update residents in and around Indianapolis and Hamilton County on the progress of the White River Vision Plan, including findings on hydrology and ecological impact studies, history, community character and existing assets along the river. The community will also hear about recruitment efforts for River Guides, an initiative to assemble ambassadors to engage the community during planning and research for the vision plan. Those who are interested in becoming River Guides, or want to get more information about the White River Vision Plan and its progress can sign up on the newly-launched website mywhiteriver.com.
“Community involvement is central to the development of the White River Master Plan,” said Emily Mack, Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Indianapolis. “As a nexus to connect Central Indiana like never before, the plan will incorporate community ideas, feedback, and concerns to ensure that the transformation of the White River becomes a genuine community-wide destination for all.”
In addition to public meetings, the project team will also hold focus groups, community surveys and engaging events in Indianapolis and Hamilton County with residents, institutional landowners, neighborhood and business organizations, tourism industry officials, elected officials, environmental advocacy organizations, neighbors and regulatory agencies.
“Hamilton County is proud to be part of the plan to re-think how residents and visitors can connect with the White River,” said Brenda Myers, President and CEO of Hamilton County Tourism Inc. “We hold the river in high regard as a part of our heritage and look forward to hearing community feedback about the White River Vision Plan’s progress.”
Following the 12-month planning period, the final plan will be shared with the public and a variety of stakeholder groups and organizations. For more information on the White River Vision Plan, or to sign up as a River Guide, visit mywhiteriver.com. You can also follow My White River on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About White River Vision Plan
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., to develop a comprehensive and coordinated regional, community-driven plan to enhance 58 miles of the White River in Indianapolis and Hamilton County. 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.
About Agency Landscape + Planning
Agency Landscape + Planning is a team of talented landscape architects, planners and urban designers that deliver a full spectrum of design services – from strategic planning to complex landscape implementation. Located in Cambridge, Mass., Agency is a women-owned small business founded in 2018 by partners Gina Ford and Brie Hensold who believe a more resilient and equitable approach to planning and design will lead to more relevant, contextual and vibrant public environments. Visit agencylp.com for more information.