White River State Park

Coordinates: 39°46′00″N 86°10′11″W / 39.76667°N 86.16972°W / 39.76667; -86.16972
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with White River Falls State Park in Oregon.
White River State Park
Indianapolis 2017 panorama.png
Aerial panorama of White River State Park in 2017
Map
Interactive map outlining the park's boundaries
TypeUrban park, state park
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Coordinates39°46′00″N 86°10′11″W / 39.76667°N 86.16972°W / 39.76667; -86.16972
Area267 acres (108 ha)[1]
Created1979; 44 years ago (1979)
Owned byState of Indiana
Operated byWhite River State Park Development Commission
Visitors2.8 million[a]
OpenDaily, 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
StatusOpen all year
Public transit accessLocal Transit IndyGo 8
Bike transport Indiana Pacers Bikeshare
Websitewww.whiteriverstatepark.org

White River State Park is an urban park in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Situated along the eastern and western banks of its namesake White River, the park covers 267 acres (108 ha).[1] The park is home to numerous attractions, including the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Zoo, NCAA Hall of Champions, Victory Field, and White River Gardens.

The park and accompanying Indianapolis Canal Walk comprise one of seven designated cultural districts.[citation needed]

History[edit]

Initial plans for the park were conceived by civic leaders in the late-1970s to capitalize on the city's amateur sports economic development strategy.[1] Bipartisan support from state legislators and seed money from corporate partners led to the organization of a quasi-governmental commission to oversee planning and operations for the park.[1] Construction began in the 1980s with the acquisition and clearing of blighted industrial properties and realignment of Washington Street for redevelopment.[3]

Restoration of this area began in the late 1980s when public attention fell on the Indiana Central Canal. The canal was originally engineered in the 1830s as a way to ship goods through the state of Indiana, but the project, as governed by the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, went bankrupt and the Indianapolis section of the canal was the only section that was ever dug. Although the canal was never used for its intended purpose, recent restoration and development have allowed the area to function as a cultural center within the city.

In 1980, architect César Pelli's Indiana Tower was proposed as the park's focal point; however, the 750-foot (229 m) observation tower was never constructed due to funding concerns and public criticism of the tower's design.[4] Since, several proposed attractions have been considered, including an Indiana African American History Museum,[5] seasonal ice skating rink,[6] tethered balloon ride,[7] amusement park,[8] and public beach.[9]

In December 2020, officials announced that the park's footprint would expand by 10 acres (4.0 ha) as part of a $100 million public-private partnership between the State of Indiana, City of Indianapolis, and Elanco to redevelop the neighboring General Motors site to the south.[10] The new parkland will hug the west riverbank and incorporate a portion of the former plant's preserved crane bay.[10] The crane bay was designed by industrial architect Albert Kahn.[11]

Ownership and operations[edit]

White River State Park is owned by the State of Indiana under the auspices of the White River State Park Development Commission, a quasi-governmental board composed of 12 commissioners. The commission is charged with overseeing park maintenance, marketing, operations, and future development. The commission was created in 1979 by the Indiana General Assembly to distinguish the park from those managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.[8] Management of the park's 800-space underground parking garage and 200-space surface parking lot has been outsourced to Reef Technology.[citation needed]

Attractions[edit]

Map
[Interactive fullscreen map]
This is a stopgap mapping solution, while attempts are made to resolve technical difficulties with {{OSM Location map}}
Map of notable sites at White River State Park
1
Canal Walk
2
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
3
Indiana State Museum
4
Indianapolis Zoo
5
McCormick Cabin Site
6
Medal of Honor Memorial
7
Military Park
8
NCAA Hall of Champions
9
NCAA National Office
10
TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
11
Victory Field
12
West Washington Street Pumping Station
13
White River Gardens
1870 – Opened as the original water pumping station for the city of Indianapolis
1969 – Pumping station closed
1980 – Accepted for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places
1981 – Reopened as the park's headquarters and visitors' center after renovations
  • White River State Park Visitors' Center (Dr. Frank P. Lloyd Sr. Visitors Center)[13]
2003 – Opened
1988 – Park’s first attraction established
1999 – Opened
  • Historic Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge
1916 – Opened as part of the National Road
1994 – Historic National Road U.S. 40 previously linking the U.S. from east to west start renovations
1999 – Art Sculptures in the Park began[14]
1999–2000 – Relocated to Indianapolis from Kansas City
1999–2000 – Relocated to Indianapolis from Kansas City
2002 – Opened
1996 – Opened as Indiana's only IMAX theatre and still the largest IMAX theatre in Indiana
1999 – Opened
1822 – Site of Indianapolis's first documented 4th of July celebration
1852 – Site of first Indiana State Fair
1861 – Civil War encampment until 1865
1830 – Founded.
1999 – Current building near White River State Park opened in 1999
Not one of the park's attractions, but located next to it and open to the public
1989 – Opened as the park’s second attraction
2005 – Opened expanded gallery space, education facility, performance/special event areas, and indoor/outdoor dining restaurant doubled the museum's size
1996 – Opened as home of the Indianapolis Indians
  • White River State Park Concert Series[17]
2004 – Opened inaugural summer concert season at a temporary concert venue, the 7,500-seat "Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn"[18]
2007 – Doubled concert attendance with 50,000+ spectators, included 11 shows
2018 - Plans to replace temporary structure announced by White River State Park Development Commission[19]
2019 - Construction begun on $27 million "The TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park", with 3,000 permanent seats and a general admission lawn area for 4,500, to be completed in June 2020[20][21]
  • Indiana Cross Country Arena
2007 – White River State Park partners with the Indiana Invaders, Indy Greenways, Indianapolis Parks, the National Institute for Fitness & Sport (NIFS), local and international businesses, and community partners to revitalize the flood plain green space along the White River for education, health, and recreation opportunities.
2008 – Opened unofficially in August with nine meets and invitationals
2008 – Middle school (National Middle School Championships), high school (City of Indianapolis Championships), and youth (Indiana USA Track and Field Junior Olympics) teams compete
2010 – Anticipated official inaugural season in late summer

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Visitation in 2022 was reported as the combined attendance of the park's individual attractions, including the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Indiana State Museum and IMAX Theater, the Indianapolis Zoo, the NCAA Hall of Champions, TCU Amphitheater, and Victory Field.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Bodenhamer, David; Barrows, Robert, eds. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. pp. 1427–1428.
  2. ^ Lindquist, Dave (February 17, 2023). "Rebounding visitor stats generate optimism in hospitality industry". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "Washington Rerouting To Begin". The Indianapolis News. April 27, 1984. p. 19. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Dawn (January 26, 2018). "Indiana Tower: The 750-foot spire that never was". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Whitson, Jennifer (May 12, 2008). "Black history museum loses site, may land on Indiana Ave". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  6. ^ Schouten, Cory (January 8, 2007). "Downtown ice rink in the works". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  7. ^ "White River park passes on balloon". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. June 8, 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Knight, Jerold; Blair, Lyndsey D. (2021) [1994]. "White River State Park". Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  9. ^ Schoettle, Anthony (January 29, 2016). "Could the White River get a beach downtown? Maybe, says Visit Indy". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Shuey, Mickey (December 4, 2020). "Elanco HQ expected to anchor new development, park expansion on former GM site". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  11. ^ Burris, Alexandria (September 9, 2019). "GM stamping plant redeveloper hosts design contest to bring 'new ideas' to Indianapolis". The Indianapolis Star. Gannett Co. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  12. ^ "Pumphouse History". White River State Park. Archived from the original on October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  13. ^ "Map of Park". White River State Park. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "Sculpture in the Park". White River State Park. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  15. ^ "IMAX Theatre at Indiana State Museum - Indianapolis - Movie Tickets Showtimes". www.imax.com.
  16. ^ "The Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial". IPL. Archived from the original on March 14, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  17. ^ "Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park". White River State Park. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  18. ^ Erdody, Lindsay (September 27, 2018). "State plans $27M permanent concert venue at White River State Park". Indianapolis Business Journal. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  19. ^ Lindquist, David (October 17, 2018). "How upgrades at The Lawn at White River State Park could help attract more concerts". The Indianapolis Star. Gannett Co., Inc. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  20. ^ Lindquist, David (December 3, 2019). "First concert announced for new-look Amphitheater at White River State Park". The Indianapolis Star. Gannett Co., Inc. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  21. ^ Lindquist, David (October 16, 2019). "White River State Park: Here's what the permanent concert stage, fixed seating looks like". The Indianapolis Star. Gannett Co., Inc. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.

External links[edit]

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White River State Park.
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