Success Stories

Barth Avenue Bridge Project

 Many outside groups had promised to invest in the Bates-Hendricks neighborhood of Indianapolis before, but few had delivered. When residents teamed up with community stakeholders in a collective impact effort to renovate the crumbling Barth Avenue Bridge as a pedestrian destination, change started to occur as neighbors tapped into the neighborhood’s most underused asset—the waterway.

 

 

Pogue’s Run Rest Stops

     With a focus on aesthetics and creative placemaking, the areas bordering Pogue’s Run waterway and trail have been transformed. Through a partnership with Williams Creek Management and funded by the Kresge Foundation, Reconnecting to Our Waterways worked with local artists and community members to create three rest stops – places that give people a chance to pause and see the power of art and the beauty of Pogue’s Run.

 

Rediscovering the Central Canal

Once an urban attraction area, the Northwest stretch of Indianapolis’ Central Canal has been forgotten and neglected over the past half-century. Reconnecting to Our Waterways is working with neighborhood residents to turn this beautiful urban corridor in the middle of Indianapolis into an amenity and reconnect the community with the waterway safely.

 

 

Indy Urban Bioblitz

Scientists and volunteers convened in September 2016 for the inaugural Indy Urban BioBlitz, counting nearly 600 species of wild plants and animals along city waterways in just 24 hours.

 

 

 

Destination Fall Creek Takes Root

Five years ago, a group of people and organizations that would become Reconnecting to Our Waterways came together to dream about how to make Fall Creek a better destination. The mission? Channel thousands of volunteer hours to clear dense invasive honeysuckle and plant a garden and orchard in the middle of a food desert.

 

 

Wellness On the White River

More than 5 miles of wilderness trails and 210 acres of wildlife habitat hide along the White River waterway in downtown Indianapolis but remain largely underused by nearby neighborhoods. With improvements to the New York Street Bridge, Reconnecting to Our Waterways aims to boost well-being by connecting Near Westside residents to zones of physical activity and active play.

 

 Recreation Along Our Waterways

Hoosiers live near many waterways right in the Indianapolis area, but many residents might not be aware of the numerous opportunities that exist to engage with them. Reconnecting to Our Waterways works with several organizations to promote what some of our waterways have to offer for outdoor recreation. These initiatives help reconnect the community to their waterways and allow people to get involved with the simple beauties of nature that exist so close to home.

 

Art Along Our Waterways

Turning the great outdoors into a destination for the general public can inspire community involvement and a connection with nature. Reconnecting to Our Waterways and partner organizations, like the daVinci Pursuit and the Herron School of Art and Design at IUPUI, work together to stimulate neighborhoods through the use of beautiful and very unique outdoor art. This art not only intrigues the public, but also draws attention to the nearby waterways while creating educational opportunities.