White River State Park is an

urban park An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a municipal park (North America) or a public park, public open space, or municipal gardens ( UK), is a park in cities and other incorporated places that offer recreation and green space to resi ...

downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business distric ...

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

. Situated along the eastern and western banks of its namesake White River, the park covers . The park is home to numerous attractions, including the

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is an art museum in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The Eiteljorg houses an extensive collection of visual arts by indigenous peoples of the Americas as well as Western Ame ...

Indiana State Museum The Indiana State Museum is a museum located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum houses exhibits on the science, art, culture, and history of Indiana from prehistoric times to the present day. History The original collec ...

Indianapolis Zoo The Indianapolis Zoo is a non-profit zoo, public aquarium, and botanical garden in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Incorporated in 1944, the Indianapolis Zoological Society established the first zoo at George Washington Park in 1964. The c ...

NCAA Hall of Champions The NCAA Hall of Champions is an interactive museum and part of a three-building complex that houses a conference center and the corporate headquarters of both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Federation of State Hi ...

Victory Field Victory Field is a minor league ballpark in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is home to the Indianapolis Indians of the International League. History Victory Field opened on July 11, 1996, with the Indians falling to the Oklahom ...

, and

White River Gardens White River Gardens is a botanical garden located at White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Established in 1999, the gardens are managed and operated by the Indianapolis Zoo. In 2021, White River Gardens' was home to ...

. The park and accompanying Indianapolis Canal Walk comprise one of seven designated cultural districts.

History

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. 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. Construction began in the 1980s with the acquisition and clearing of blighted industrial properties and realignment of Washington Street for redevelopment. Restoration of this area began in the late 1980s when public attention fell on the

Indiana Central Canal The Indiana Central Canal was a canal intended to connect the Wabash and Erie Canal to the Ohio River. It was funded by the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, Indiana's attempt to take part in the canal-building craze started by the Erie Canal. ...

. The canal was originally engineered in the 1830s as a way to ship goods through the state of

, but the project, as governed by the

Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act The Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act was a law passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed by Whig Governor Noah Noble in 1836 that greatly expanded the state's program of internal improvements. It added $10 million to spending and ...

, 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, noted architect

César Pelli César Pelli (October 12, 1926 – July 19, 2019) was an Argentine-American architect who designed some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. Two of his most notable buildings are the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur a ...

Indiana Tower Indiana Tower was the proposed centerpiece of White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Designed by César Pelli in 1980, the plan was ultimately scrapped. Proposal As part of the downtown revitalization campaign for India ...

was proposed as the park's focal point; however, the observation tower was never constructed due to funding concerns and public criticism of the tower's design. Since, several proposed attractions have been considered, including an Indiana African American History Museum, seasonal ice skating rink,

tethered balloon A tethered, moored or captive balloon is a balloon that is restrained by one or more tethers attached to the ground and so it cannot float freely. The base of the tether is wound around the drum of a winch, which may be fixed or mounted on a vehic ...

ride, amusement park, and public beach. In December 2020, officials announced that the park's footprint would expand by as part of a $100 million public-private partnership between the State of Indiana, City of Indianapolis, and

Elanco Elanco Animal Health Incorporated is an American pharmaceutical company which produces medicines and vaccinations for pets and livestock. Until 2019, the company was a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, before being divested. It is the third ...

to redevelop the neighboring

General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...

site to the south. The new parkland will hug the west riverbank and incorporate a portion of the former plant's preserved crane bay. The crane bay was designed by industrial architect Albert Kahn.

Ownership and operations

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 A state-owned enterprise (SOE) is a government entity which is established or nationalised by the ''national government'' or ''provincial government'' by an executive order or an act of legislation in order to earn profit for the governmen ...

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 The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate. ...

to distinguish the park from those managed by the

Indiana Department of Natural Resources The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the U.S. state of Indiana. There are many divisions within the DNR and each has a specific role. The DNR is not only responsible for maintaining resource areas but also manages In ...

. Management of the park's 800-space underground parking garage and 200-space surface parking lot has been outsourced to Reef Technology.

Attractions

* Historic Pumphouse ::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 The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

::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) ::2003 – Opened *

::1988 – Park’s first attraction established *

::1999 – Opened *Historic Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge ::1916 – Opened as part of the

National Road The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the Federal Government of the United States, federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, the road connected the Pot ...

::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 *

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

Headquarters and Hall of Champions Museum ::1999–2000 – Relocated to Indianapolis from Kansas City *

National Federation of State High School Associations The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. NFHS's headquarters are located in White River State Park in Indi ...

Headquarters (NFHS) ::1999–2000 – Relocated to Indianapolis from Kansas City *

::2002 – Opened *IMAX 3D Theatre ::1996 – Opened as Indiana's only IMAX theatre and still the largest IMAX theatre in Indiana *

Medal of Honor Memorial The Medal of Honor Memorial is a monument located in White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is dedicated in honor of all recipients of the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest award for valor. The memo ...

::1999 – Opened * Military Park ::1822 – Site of Indianapolis's first documented 4th of July celebration ::1852 – Site of first

Indiana State Fair The Indiana State Fair is an annual state fair that spans 18 days in July and August in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. The Indiana State Fair debuted in 1852 at Military Park in Indianapolis and is the sixth oldest state fair in the U.S. It is the ...

::1861 – Civil War encampment until 1865 *

Indiana Historical Society The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is one of the United States' oldest and largest historical societies and describes itself as "Indiana's Storyteller". It is housed in the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center at 450 West Ohio Street ...

::1830 – Founded. ::1999 – Current building near White River State Park opened in 1999 * State Capitol Building and Government Complex ::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 ::2004 – Opened inaugural summer concert season at a temporary concert venue, the 7,500-seat "Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn" ::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 ::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 *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

References

External links

*
TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
{{authority control State parks of Indiana Parks in Indianapolis Culture of Indianapolis Protected areas established in 1979 1979 establishments in Indiana Music venues in Indiana

History

Ownership and operations

Attractions

See also

References

External links