A co-worker of mine recently returned from a long weekend trip to Pittsburgh for a family wedding. Before she went, I was raving about my love for that city and telling her where to go and what to see. She didn’t really seem too interested in what I was saying and was almost annoyed she had to go to Pittsburgh to begin with. But when she came back to work and I asked her about the trip, she carried a different tune, as her first response was “forget this cow town [Indianapolis], I’m packing my bags and moving to Pittsburgh.” She went on to sing the city’s praises and couldn’t believe how well off the urban core seemed. One feature about Pittsburgh she particularly enjoyed was the numerous public spaces in and around downtown. As she explained, “you can really get a sense of civic pride in Pittsburgh, represented in their amazing public spaces and civic institutions in their urban core.”
When she said this to me, I began to think about Indianapolis’s public spaces around downtown and what they say about the city. Upon this reflection, I realized the current message is a mixed one of positive and negative: Indianapolis has beautiful spaces but they are not utilized to their highest possibility. Fortunately, the Circle City has so much potential to not only make the kind of impact on out-of-towners that Pittsburgh made on my co-worker, but also create amazing urban open spaces that are unparalleled in mid-size Midwest cities. This potential lies in Monument Circle and the vast open space just north of downtown, stretching from University Park north to the American Legion Mall, and everything in between.
I have discussed what I think about Monument Circle on end, so this post is dedicated to the open spaces north of the Circle. Designated a National Historic Landmark District, the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza covers five city blocks, spanning from New York Street on the south to St. Clair Street on the north between Meridian and Pennsylvania Streets. Essentially, the system is made up of 4 distinct spaces: University Park, the Indiana War Memorial, Obelisk Square, and the American Legion Mall. Each individual space has a different set of attributes and character, yet all feel tied together through a linear system that is beautifully grand, monumental, and European in scale. For a quick rundown, here is a summary of each space:
- American Legion Mall – features a large lawn that is used for varying activities including pick-up flag football and numerous events.
- Obelisk Square – a picturesque square with a large obelisk and accompanying fountain centering the space.
- Indiana War Memorial - A beautiful Neoclassical building inspired by the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the world. Within is a military museum, the Shrine Room, and an auditorium.
- University Park – A beautiful intimate park filled with numerous statues and a centerpiece fountain – the Depew Memorial Fountain.
With this grand, vast open space comes the general disappointment that it is not being fully utilized of or living up to its potential. Similar to Monument Circle, the spaces are beautiful urban designs but mediocre public spaces. I walk through this area on a daily basis on my way to and from work and rarely do I see people using the plazas or patrons enjoying the vast green space. Occasionally I will see an aerobics class exercising, a group of twenty something guys playing football in the Legion Mall, or a weekend festival going on, but other than this spotty activity, the spaces go largely unused and have a vacant feel to them on a day-to-day basis. The reason for this may go well beyond the scope of this post and perhaps gets to a bigger issue of Indianapolis’s laissez faire attitude towards civic life in general, but I do see three planning/design related problems that could be mediated to create a better, more inviting public space. The three current problems are as follows: the uses and built environment around the parks aren’t complimentary to an active public space, Pennsylvania and Meridian Streets are too wide and auto-oriented, and the parks don’t have programmed events on a regular basis.
The uses surrounding the open spaces are a smattering of institutions, surface parking lots, and small bits of residential that do little to activate the parks. Even if there were great uses that were complimentary, Meridian and Pennsylvania are too auto-oriented to allow a significant connection and spill-over effect of activity. A new plan needs to be put in place that places pedestrian activity on the forefront and allows for the narrowing of Pennsylvania and Meridian as well as the gradual transformation of the surrounding blocks into cafes, galleries, hotels, high density residential units, and other uses that will help activate the public spaces. In addition to these physical improvements, a regular schedule of activities and events needs to be implemented to create a regional draw and bring people together from across the city.
I can’t emphasize this point enough: for a place like downtown Indianapolis, having regularly scheduled events and activities ( for reference, Fountain Square in Cincinnati has events 300+ days a year) with an accessible website and a strong marketing campaign will bring even more people downtown and will help create a better civic life for the city. What better place to hold such events than Monument Circle and the beautiful linear parks just north of the Circle? Indianapolis needs more places where people go to just go, go to socialize, go to be outside, go to see other people, go to events and festivals, go just because. These open spaces, along with Monument Circle, could be those places but a lot needs to change – change in building form and use, physical infrastructure, and an increase in event programming – for this to happen.
I am glad to see the Cultural Trail will cross through the Legion Mall, hopefully bringing some life and activity to the spaces. This is a step in the right direction and hopefully signifies a renewed interest in taking full advantage of the great and beautiful public spaces downtown Indianapolis has to offer. If a great plan is put together for the area and those ideas are implemented, I think the spaces can not only be beautiful, but also active, vital, and full of life. From this, a great urban public space can be created and people like my co-worker will see in her city what she saw in Pittsburgh: civic pride.
Check out the images below for a better understanding of just how beautiful these open spaces are. And yet, on a day-to-day basis, they go largely unused.
Nothing says “Captial City” like the view from the Library steps looking south. Indy’s public spaces are criminally underutlized; however, it seems that a new event is occuring everyday and hopefully this trend continues! I love showing out-of-towners the War Memorial!
When I walked through with a friend about two weeks ago (Wednesday night), I took us on a walk from the Spaghetti factory through Monument Circle, then onto the linear park. When we walked through, there were homeless people everywhere. I’m 100% positive that if it were just my friend (a girl), she would have zero interest in walking through the park. I, however, am a nerd, and wanted to check out the beautiful new library. We were both dually impressed by the seamless integration of modern & neo-classical, the stunning view outward, and the impressive array of interesting modern touches throughout the library.
I think Indy is a place that is on the rise..but upon arrival, it seems sort of sleepy & complacent…and I think that has to do with the general lack of residential diversity.
*side note: there was an interesting new condo development right next to the War Memorial. I’ve always wanted to design a modern condo atop an older facade..I thought this building did a decent job (upon a quick visual inspection). If you know what I’m talking about, what are your thoughts?
The physical problems or possibilities you so rightly described can be reworked with great success, I feel.
But will they come? The scale of the streets are, as you noted, too wide. when the streets are wider than the buildings are tall you feel a strong disconnect as a pedestrian.
I would like to see Meridian as a grand green blvd. strecthing from the Circle north to at least Fall Creek, creating an emerald necklace similar in idea to that created in Boston by Olmstead. Perhaps this would spur more residential building along the borders. Special events will draw people in but it’s daily use of open spaces that make you want to be there.
The harder and bigger issue is how can you attract a people to a civic, more public life. As it is now the parks are no more than drive-by. I have an apartment on College Ave. in one of the converted warehouse buildings. I love walking around the neighborhood and to the downtown but not alone! Where are the people?
Again, you are masterful in observations and propsed solutions. Don’t run off before you do great things!
I am not sure it is fair to compare activites on Fountain Square in Cincinnati with the public spaces in Indy. I have spent much time in both cities. Downtown Cincinnati just does not compare to downtown Indy in the amount of nightime activites, sporting events, concerts, theatre, the number or restaurants, etc. Perhaps there are not as many activites on the Circle because downtown Indy has many other public places where activites take place. There is usually some type of festival going on every weekend and often daily in Military Park and White River Park and along the Canal, all just 4-5 blocks west of the Circle. There are also weekly and sometimes daily events at the City Market, which could otherwise be held on the Circle. I am not aware of other downtown Cincinnati public spaces besides along the river where many events are held. Nearly every weekend there is a festival or celebration on Indy’s American Legion Mall. Last weekend it was a Black Expo Concert and the weekend before a Colts fan appreciation event (normally held on the Circle). The American Legion Mall and University Park are also the annual sites for the Indy Gay Pride Festival and celebration. There were over 55,000 people there this year, on a terribly hot, humid day. I was disappointed you did not write about it but you were probably in Cincinnati that weekend.
Quinn – I do know what building you’re referring to and I think it is a great conversion/addition. I love how it seamlessly flows into the new addition above the, what I am assuming is, old bank building.
Paul – thanks for the comments and compliments. I really like the idea of turning Meridian into a green thoroughfare. That would certainly beautify the corridor as well as properly connect Monument Circle to the War Memorial Plaza. But yes, the most difficult thing here in Indy is to change a mindset – from a private to a public one. This is why I think more programming needs to be done initially. This can buy people in to the idea of public spaces and in time, a vital space can be created without programming.
Mark – Thanks for the comments! Having lived in both Indy and Cincinnati, its my observation that each cities core vibrancy is almost matched these days. Overall, Indy does have the edge because of its retail scene and all the conventioneers that come down. But Cincy definitely has Indy beat on the arts/theatre scene. Hands down. And there is more fine dining in Dt Cincy than Indy. In terms of vibrancy, I expect Cincy to surpass Indy in the next 2 years (the streetcar, the Banks, the revamped Washington Park, the Gateway Quarter work, and the new riverfront park will all go towards this.) Currently, Indy seems more complacent than Cincy. Just my observations and opinions though. But who knows, things tend to happen quickly and all at once so I guess we’ll see. Also, I was not in Indy for gay pride. I was in Cincinnati visiting my new nieces. It was the only weekend I was able to see them so I had to go and sadly, I missed Indy pride. Next year though!
I’ve gotta say having spent large amounts of times in Indy (where I grew up) & in Pittsburgh (where my dad lives) there are many similarities however twice as many differences.
Pittsburgh is an old industrial city that has shed much of its former rust belt image. Indy has also done the same but never had the grime & grit that gave Pittsburgh its character, but also its bad rep.
Pittsburgh is a very beautiful city don’t get me wrong, but its immediate downtown is SEVERELY lacking after 5PM. Granted, Pittsburgh’s South Side and North Shore neighborhoods are vibrant around this time. Contrast this to Indy where the majority of our downtown (as you noted mostly south of the Circle) is very busy well past midnight on most evenings. Yet, Indy still offers other neighborhoods such as Fountain Square & Broad Ripple that are still thriving around this time too.
Where Indianapolis lags compared to Pittsburgh is its built and natural beauty. However, with Indy’s lack of hills and three rivers comes a distinct advantage, accessibility. Indy is MUCH easier to get around on foot, bike or even car than Pittsburgh can ever dream of. Compound this with our recently added bike lanes (Pittsburgh’s downtown has none that I know of) & our expanding Cultural Trail it should only improve as time goes on. However, Pittsburgh does have Indy beat by a long shot in regards to our transit system (or lack thereof).
All in all, Pittsburgh & Indianapolis are both promising cities. Pittsburgh is in the process of redefining its old image while Indy is still defining its very own. On a final thought the PEOPLE of Indianapolis seem less insular and more hospitable. But that’s just my personal opinion.
E
I’m currently re-reading The Death and Life of Great American Cites, and I just finished Jacobs’ discussion of parks. I think she would say that downtown Indy has a surplus of park space and inadequate quantity and diversity of users. The area parks might actually be healthier and livelier if they were smaller and more scattered, and if the whole area were more dense with offices, housing, retail, and cultural offerings.