Meet with Indy Parks staff and consultants, hear about upcoming improvements to your neighborhood park and give feedback on potential options.

MLK Gateway Herron Morton Neighborhood Association Meeting Notes

Location: Joy of All Who Sorrow – 1516 N. Delaware St
Date/Time: Monday, November 6, 2023 at 7pm

Meeting Presentation Flow

1. Project Team Introductions

a. RG Collaborative – Sanford Garner

b. Context – Alyssa Prazeau

c. Peter Okeaso

d. Shrewsberry/Tikur Solutions – Davita Johnson

2. Project Overview

a. History of park by Sanford and Peter

b. City working on website prior to engagement meeting

c. Alyssa spoke to the overall master plan concepts and ideas

i. The purpose of the park it to evoke emotion and history and is considered the passive area.

ii. Pavilion purpose is to engage visitors with the history of the park

• Goal is to create a level of reverence like other memorials

iii. 19th Street Pass Thru Plaza

• Provide options for ADA parking

• Provide an option for a drop-off

• Thru traffic should not be allowed

• Look at the potential for one way traffic

iv. Update to the memorial will be proposed

v. Park is recognized as a National Historic Area

vi. Overall Budget at $5 Million

vii. Current kiosks with video of Kennedy’s speech at the park is located within the MLK Community Center

viii. There is regular use by various groups that should be maintained:

• Arts

• Picnicking

• School groups

ix. Make sure you tell the story

• The interpretation is currently located in the Parks Building/community Center

x. Look at this are more regionally to understand the connection to the Monon Trail

• 17th Street doesn’t go through – should bike traffic be allowed to go through this sacred/ceremonial space?

• 19th Street has a jog, but it also has a light to ensure safe crossings of busier streets

3. Public Engagement Meeting

a. December 5, 2023, at MLK Community Center 6:30pm

4. Questions:

a. Is one of the renderings that are being presented the current condition/layout of park?

i. One of the renderings are reflective of current layout with a few added items

ii. Second rendering are potential concepts/ideas

b. What’s being added?

i. kiosk, pass thru plaza are some potential ideas

c. What is the functionality of podium?

i. For speeches, small bands, small performances there a budget for performances

d. Does the current/proposed design meet the needs of the surrounding neighborhood?

i.Neighbors utilize that area for picnics – didn’t want the new concept to interrupt those type of activities

e. Who is responsible for the upkeep of the park (ex. weeds growing around trees)?

i.Indy Parks

f. Will there be any new artwork?

i. Sanford is looking to work with a local artist to find a way to incorporate art that will support the purpose and feel of the park

g. Will there be more historical plaques?

i.Yes, that is one of the goals for the project.

h. Are there ideas for 19th street?

i.19th street will not a thru street.

ii. Suggestions of potential parking spaces with handicap accessibility, speed bumps, a drop off area, circular pattern, removable bollards (parks is open to the removable bollards)

i.Landscaping - flower planting?

i.Yes

j. Will there be a cycling path for bike thru the park at 17th street to make (direct) connectivity to Monon?

i.Parks is not looking to separate the center and the park or imped with purpose of why the park is there

10.30.23 | MLK Gateway at Kennedy King Neighborhood Meeting Notes

Meeting Presentation Flow

1. Project Team Introductions

a. RC Collaborative

b. Indy Parks

c. Shrewsberry/Tikur Solutions

d. Context

e. Peter Okeaso

2. Project Overview

a. Master Plan rendering adopted dates

i.Renderings from 2004 and 2010 on display

b. Park conceptually described as a the passive portion of the park.

c. Peter Okeaso provided some history of the park.

3. Neighbor Question

a. Initial goals surrounding the purpose of design and usage for park project?

i. Educational purpose/less active area

b. What will be done on 19th street?

                            i. Pass Thru Plaza is what is currently proposed.

c. How to increase visibility to the park?

i. Signage

d. Concerns around heavy traffic near playground area.

i.   The usage of pavilion utilization?

ii.   Potential speaking locations.

iii.   Use for concerts has not been considered.

e. Lighting?

i. Anticipated upgrades to come.

4. Feedback portal:

a. RG Collaborative has provided the community with their admin email address to collect feedback from the neighborhoods which Sanford will provide after all neighborhood and public engagement meetings have been completed.