Item Type: Comprehensive Plan
About this Item: The plan proposes a network of green infrastructure throughout Central Indiana that includes clusters of natural habitat and connecting corridors, including forests, wetlands, streams, and other native landscape.
Sanctioning Entity: Central Indiana Land Trust
Year: 2009
Key Ideas:

1. A total network of 3,16,192 acres, or 10% of Central Indiana, is proposed to be part of this network.  Of this amount, 19% is already protected by federal, state, or local governments.  21,719 of these acres, with 6,000 of them already protected, are in Marion County.
2. Goals include conserving contiguous natural habitat, protecting stream and land corridors, helping planning to be more environmentally sensitive, increasing awareness and support, and increasing coordination of green and traditional infrastructure projects.

Item Type: Comprehensive Plan
About this Item: The plan documents the current status of the park system in Indianapolis as well as providing a blueprint for the creation and preservation of open spaces, recreation facilities, and parks.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 2009
Key Ideas:

1. Indianapolis has a deficit of all types of parks.  The adopted standard for regional parks is 10 acres per 1,000 people, but the city only has 6.2.  For community parks the standard is 6 acres, but the city only has 1.  For neighborhood parks, the standard is 1.3 acres, but the city has 1.2.  And for trails, the standard is 0.15 miles per 1,000 people, but the city only has 0.07.
2. Based on 2000 census data, the city needs 1,714 acres of new parkland, with much of this need in the more suburban parts of the city.
3. The plan identifies $41 million in desired projects with no identified funding source ranging from installing gutters on a poolhouse to renovation of the Taggert Memorial.
4. The plan identifies and prioritizes desired land acquisition properties.
5. As for trends, the top 5 recreational activities in the US are walking for pleasure, family gatherings, visiting a beach, visiting a nature center, and picnicking.  In Indianapolis they are walking or hiking, bicycling or roller-blading, picnicking, walking a dog, and attending a special event.

Item Type: Comprehensive Plan
About this Item: The plan lays out the vision and planned routes for the greenways system in Marion County. Note this plan is currently under revision.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 2002
Key Ideas:

1. Plans for 110 miles of greenways along 16 corridors: B&O, Buck Creek, Central Canal Towpath, Crooked Creek, Eagle Creek, Fall Creek, Grassy Creek, Indian Creek, Little Buck Creek, Monon Trail, Mud Creek, Pennsy Trail, Pleasant Run, Pogues Run, White River, and White Lick Creek.

Item Type: Comprehensive Plan
About this Item: The Comprehensive Plan is the guiding policy document for development and land use in the County. It is required by state statute and must address land use and the development of public ways, places, land, structures, and utilities.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 2007
Key Ideas:

1. The Community Values Component outlines the values important to the community and the goals and objectives to preserve them.
2. The Land Use Component provides a land use map for future development.  Note that sub-area (neighborhood plans) are components of the Comprehensive Plan.

Item Type: Historic Preservation, Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan is a city-sponsored neighborhood plan that outlines issues and recommendations for the area. It is the guiding policy document for land use related issues by the City of Indianapolis. This plan is exclusively a land use plan and does not address other issues.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 2004
Key Ideas:

1. The plan notes seven properties recommended for a change in land use to residential.  The remaining portions of the neighborhood remain as is, with commercial clusters at 49^th and Pennsylvania Streets and at Westfield Boulevard and Illinois Street.

Item Type: Infrastructure
About this Item: The Long Term Control Plan, required by order of the EPA, will reduce the overflow of raw sewage into streams in Indianapolis by 95-97% through a 20-year, $1.8 billion investment in infrastructure projects.
Sanctioning Entity: Citizens Energy Group, City of Indianapolis
Year: 2007
Key Ideas:

1. A deep-rock storage tunnel will be bored several hundred feet below Fall Creek and White River, intercepting many overflow outlets and storing 224 million gallons of sewage until it can be treated by the wastewater treatment plant.
2. Construction of larger sewers and underground storage tanks along Pogues Run, Pleasant Run, Bean Creek, Eagle Creek, Fall Creek, and White River to store sewage until it can be treated by the wastewater treatment plant.
3. Inflatable dams and water valves to block CSOs and use existing pipes as storage until treatment can occur.
4. Improvements to the two wastewater treatment plants, and a pipe connecting the two, allowing for better management of treatment capacity.
5. Limited separation of combined sewers.

Item Type: Master Plan
About this Item: Park Master Plans document existing conditions of park properties and provide a master plan for future development.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 2006
Key Ideas:

1. The plan proposes a gateway arch and a monumental art connected by a path to a garden area.
2. The primary park entrance is on Westfield Boulevard, with a parking area and connection to the Central Canal Towpath.

Item Type: Master Plan
About this Item: Park Master Plans document existing conditions of park properties and provide a master plan for future development.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1988
Key Ideas:

1. Reduce the number of baseball/softball fields from 3 to 2 and add a soccer field.
2. Expand the playground and add a half basketball court for children.
3. Replace the spraypool with one near the playground.
4. Extensive tree planting and a walking path network.

Item Type: Master Plan
About this Item: The master plan for Butler University is a 20 year facilities plan for the campus that documents space needs, building conditions, and proposed new buildings and improvements to the campus.
Sanctioning Entity: Butler University
Year: 2010
Key Ideas:

1. Addition of new academic and residential buildings on campus oriented around central greenspaces.
2. Gradual structuring of parking on edges of campus to open up greenspace and development sites.
3. Very limited expansion of campus footprint into adjacent neighborhood.
4. Preservation of existing athletic fields and open spaces along Central Canal.

Item Type: Master Plan
About this Item: Park Master Plans document existing conditions of park properties and provide a master plan for future development.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1985
Key Ideas:

1. Create a picnic area with shelter and cooking grills, and relocate the playground adjacent to this area.
2. Establish a passive seating area with a flower garden.
3. Add two parking areas to the park .
4. Relocate the basketball courts and reduce the number of softball fields from 3 to 2.
5. Add special landscaping treatment  to the Meridian Street edge.

Item Type: Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan outlines strategies for strengthening and promoting the district as a regional cultural destination.
Sanctioning Entity: Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission
Year: 2003
Key Ideas:

1. Increase the arts focus by attracting more art-oriented business, highlighting existing venues, and promoting public art.
2. Focus on the Central Canal, with a new pedestrian bridge near Carrollton Avenue and the removal of Laverock Road to construct a gardens and front lawn.
3. Improve the streetscape with more landscaping, lighting, public art, and improved facades.
4. Add overnight accommodations to the district and construct a parking garage.

Item Type: Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan is a city-sponsored neighborhood plan that outlines issues and recommendations for the area. It is the guiding policy document for land use related issues by the City of Indianapolis. A planning process to update this plan is underway.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1997
Key Ideas:

1. Preserve the walkable village atmosphere of the neighborhood center and insure that new, larger restaurants, bars, and nightclubs support the urban pedestrian character.
2. Increase parking supply without detracting from the pedestrian experience through better connections across the canal and pedestrian amenities that encourage users to walk from parking bordering the commercial core.  Parking should be contained in the commercial core and not encroach into residential areas.

Item Type: Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan is a city-sponsored neighborhood plan that outlines issues and recommendations for the area. It is the guiding policy document for land use related issues by the City of Indianapolis. Note that this plan is substantially dated.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1970
Key Ideas:

1. Expand neighborhood commercial areas to accommodate off-street parking.
2. Establish two new parks at 46^th and Meridian and at 42^nd and Boulevard, and establish a network of primary pedestrian paths to link neighborhood destinations.  A community center is proposed for 42^nd and Boulevard.
3. Illinois Street from 38^th to 40^th Streets and from Westfield Blvd. to 56^th Street should be converted to pedestrian malls.  Neighborhood opposition to this concept is noted.

Item Type: Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan is a city-sponsored neighborhood plan that outlines issues and recommendations for the area. It is the guiding policy document for land use related issues by the City of Indianapolis. Note that this plan is substantially dated.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1986
Key Ideas:

1. Improve the streetscape by constructing sidewalks where they are missing, adding landscaping to the corridor, a coordinated parking system, and additional sign standards.
2. Convert light industrial uses to commercial, and renovate the existing commercial areas, but prevent encroachment into adjacent residential neighborhoods.  Apartments could serve as a buffer between the two uses.
3. Bury or relocate electrical lines along Keystone Avenue, and support the widening of the street.

Item Type: Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan is a city-sponsored neighborhood plan that outlines issues and recommendations for the area. It is the guiding policy document for land use related issues by the City of Indianapolis. Note that this plan is substantially dated.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1985
Key Ideas:

1. Promote neighborhood-oriented commercial development, and incentives for improvement of the conditions of commercial property.
2. Conversion of industrial uses along the Monon Railroad to multi-family residential development.
3. Improve neighborhood access and utilization of recreational facilities associated with public schools, the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Chatard High School, and the Indiana State School for the Deaf.

Item Type: Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan is a city-sponsored neighborhood plan that outlines issues and recommendations for the area. It is the guiding policy document for land use related issues by the City of Indianapolis. Note that this plan is substantially dated.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1978
Key Ideas:

1. Promote the redevelopment of boarded homes in the neighborhood, with special attention to improvement to homes along Central Avenue and College Avenue.
2. A shared parking strategy should be used at key business clusters that include bicycle parking and the removal of street parking meters.
3. Develop a “safe street” program that designates streets for walking, jogging, or bicycle riding.

Item Type: Historic Preservation, Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan is a city-sponsored neighborhood plan that outlines issues and recommendations for the area. It is the guiding policy document for land use related issues by the City of Indianapolis. This plan is exclusively a land use plan and does not address other issues.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 2004
Key Ideas:

1. The plan notes seven properties recommended for a change in land use to residential.  The remaining portions of the neighborhood remain as is, with commercial clusters at 49^th and Pennsylvania Streets and at Westfield Boulevard and Illinois Street.

Item Type: Neighborhood Plan
About this Item: The plan is a city-sponsored neighborhood plan that outlines issues and recommendations for the area. It is the guiding policy document for land use related issues by the City of Indianapolis. Note that this plan is substantially dated.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1986
Key Ideas:

1. Promote the return to residential use of properties along Illinois Street.
2. Promote parking structures, especially long-term, for commercial and institutional areas.
3. Promote a new small park in the 3700 block of Salem Street and tree planting and landscape improvements compatible with the area’s historic character.
4. Encourage additional design review, whether through development guidelines or Regional Center overlay district designation.

Item Type: Study
About this Item: This research study from Purdue explores the impact of urban development on watershed quality using a variety of scientific indicators of stream health. Its’ goal is to help predict changes to stream health based on urbanization.
Sanctioning Entity: Environmental Protection Agency
Year: 2001
Key Ideas:

1. Measures of hydrology, temperature, oxygen, channel stability, freshwater mussels, aquatic insects, and fish indicate even small changes in urbanization, primarily because of increased runoff due to imperviousness, have a degrading effect on stream quality.
2. The presence of freshwater mussels, one of the most sensitive indicators, was impacted by a change in imperviousness of only 5%.

Item Type: Study
About this Item: This study examines the ecological conditions of the Central Canal in Broad Ripple and identifies future possible changes that could impact the ecosystem.
Sanctioning Entity: Broad Ripple Village Association
Year: 2010
Key Ideas:

1. Water quality indicators were generally consistent with statewide averages or recommended levels.
2. Several invasive plant species, most notably honeysuckle, are present.
3. Few animals are present due to site management, poor habitat quality, and urban context.
4. Five scenarios were evaluated for their potential changes.  Notably, a promenade could improve water quality but would destroy the already degraded habitat, while the addition of “floating islands” would have minimal impact on water flow while adding biodiversity.

Item Type: Transportation
About this Item: The plan serves as the primary transportation policy document in Central Indiana and lays out the purpose, need, and priority for future transportation infrastructure, including roadways, transit, and bicycle/pedestrian facilities.
Sanctioning Entity: Metropolitan Planning Organization
Year: 2011
Key Ideas:

1. The plan shifts from previous plans with two key policies: an emphasis on multi-modal networks and on system preservation over expansion.
2. The plan proposes spending $194 million (on non INDOT-facilities) split between pavement preservation (25%), bridge preservation (15%), roadway expansion (25%), transit expansion (10%), bicycle/pedestrian (7%), and operations/maintenance (18%).
3. The transit vision portion of the plan includes the introduction of commuter rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit but is dependent on local funding of either 0.3% option income tax or 0.8% sales tax.

Item Type: Transportation
About this Item: As part of the IndyConnect initiative, the Bus Plan explores IndyGo service, routes, and funding scenarios for the short, medium, and long terms. Substantial analysis of the public transportation market is also included.
Sanctioning Entity: Metropolitan Planning Organization
Year: 2010
Key Ideas:

1. Population and employment densities in the region are projected to become increasingly dispersed, making public transportation difficult.  Higher employment densities are downtown, around the airport, and along the north I465 beltway.
2. In the short term, routes are classified into tiers, each with different service frequencies and times of service.
3. In the mid term, express bus service is added to serve Danville, Plainfield, Franklin, and Lawrence while vanpools link Lebanon, Brownsburg, and Greenfield (funding permitting).
4. In the long-term, bus rapid transit routes are placed on the highest traffic routes and additional community circulators are added in Hamilton County (funding permitting).

Item Type: Transportation
About this Item: The plan identifies and prioritizes roadway improvement projects and represent’s Marion County’s recommended improvements in response to the Long-Range Transportation Plan. It focuses on primary roads and highways. (Note, the current thoroughfare plan has not yet been updated to be consistent with the most recent Long-Range Transportation Plan).
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 2002
Key Ideas:

1. 23 projects are identified that are new roadway construction, mostly small segments to improve connectivity and fill in the network, and mostly in the suburban portions of the county.
2. The only interstate highway not slated for widening is Interstate 74 on the east side of the city.

Item Type: Transportation
About this Item: A component of the IndyConnect initiative, the bikeways plan provides a policy guide regarding the use of transportation funding in the region. The long-range plan proposes 1,228 miles of bikeways.
Sanctioning Entity: Metropolitan Planning Organization
Year: 2012
Key Ideas:

1. The plan proposes construction of 58 miles of new trails, 51 miles of new side paths, and 125 miles of new bike lanes by 2035.  With existing, the total network by this time would be 704 miles.
2. Bikeway construction is prioritized by weighting each proposed segment’s impact relative to population, employment, transit, regional priorities as identified by a steering committee, connection to existing bikeways, schools, parks, libraries, medical facilities, and sedentary health risk.
3. While all transportation needs have significantly constrained funding, bicycle and pedestrian networks are allocated $13.5 million through 2035, while funding needs are $251 million.

Item Type: Transportation
About this Item: The plan provides a policy guide regarding the use of transportation funding in the region regarding pedestrian systems.
Sanctioning Entity: Metropolitan Planning Organization
Year: 2006
Key Ideas:

1. The plan proposes a robust network of primary pedestrian facilities, including collector sidewalks along primary roads and multi-use paths.  Detailed maps are provided.
2. The plan introduces the concepts of pedestrian districts and pedestrian corridors.  These are areas or streets with a dense mix of land uses and destinations that promote a high level of pedestrian activity.
3. The plan develops a system of components that make up pedestrian systems and provides associated guidelines for each.

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: This plan provides an updated design for Alice Carter Place Park as well as streetscape and connectivity improvements for Westfield Boulevard.
Sanctioning Entity: Midtown Indianapolis Inc.
Year:
Key Ideas:

1. The park includes a pergola, sculptural elements, loop path, and connection across Westfield Boulevard to a Canal overlook on the Central Canal Towpath.
2. Intersection improvements at Westfield Boulevard and Meridian Street introduce a pedestrian island, gateway markers, and decorative paving

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: The study explores a recreational, art-focused trail connecting the Indianapolis Museum of Art to the Indianapolis Art Center along the Central Canal Towpath in the Midtown area.
Sanctioning Entity: Broad Ripple Village Association
Year: 2011
Key Ideas:

1. Upgrade the existing trail with a variety of art appropriate to four distinct trail sections: Broad Ripple Village, Midtown neighborhoods, Natural Corridor, and the IMA.
2. An analysis of key nodes and districts along the trail includes identification of the most appropriate typologies of art.
3. An analysis of accessibility/connectivity and safety is also included.

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: The plan proposes physical design improvements to the banks of the Central Canal to provide a safer, more aesthetic backbone to Broad Ripple’s village center.
Sanctioning Entity: Broad Ripple Village Association
Year: 2010
Key Ideas:

1. Develop a promenade along the Central Canal with a variety of sidewalks, overlooks, small plazas, planted landscape walls, and streetscape furnishings.
2. Develop a pedestrian bridge east of Carollton Avenue.

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: This concept proposes a trail and waterway linkages connecting Broad Ripple Park with the Broad Ripple Village core.
Sanctioning Entity:
Year: 1994
Key Ideas:

1. Develop a boardwalk trail along White River through the park, along White River, and linking to the Central Canal towpath.
2. Develop a water taxi system, with a lock system into the Canal, to provide canal boat excursions that link Broad Ripple with Butler, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and White River State Park.

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: This concept is for the widening of a section of Cornell Avenue to accommodate on-street parking.
Sanctioning Entity:
Year:
Key Ideas:

1. Widen street to 36’ to 40’ to accommodate on-street parking

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: This idea explores the conversion of two streets in Broad Ripple to streets that can accommodate traffic but also be closed to become open festival streets.
Sanctioning Entity: Broad Ripple Village Association
Year: 2010
Key Ideas:

1. Conversion of one block of Cornell Avenue north of the Central Canal into a street that can accommodate festivals.
2. Conversion of one block of East 63^rd Place and one block of Ferguson Road into a street that can accommodate festivals.

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: The report identifies fifteen gateway site proposals in Indianapolis and provides a resource toolbox that helps with the process, partners, funding, and regulations impacting a potential gateway project.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 2004
Key Ideas:

1. Gateways are classified as either a landmark, multiple landmark, or corridor gateway.
2. Landmark gateways are proposed at 38^th Street and Michigan Road, I65 and West Street, Monument Circle, Kentucky Avenue at Morris Street, Virginia Avenue at South Street, the new Washington Street I65 interchange, the Illinois/Meridian Street I70 interchange, Irvington, and the St. Francis Triangle in Beech Grove.
3. Multiple landmark gateways are proposed for the West Washington Street railroad overpasses and along Interstate 70 between the north split and Keystone Avenue.
4. Corridor gateways are proposed for the Cold Springs Road corridor south of 38^th Street, Fall Creek Parkway, and the South Meridian Street corridor

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: This document provides an overview of the Kessler System, its history and importance, and also includes historic maps and photos of some parts of the system.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year: 1909
Key Ideas:

1. The System combined transportation, open space, and recreation by uniting parks and waterway parkways and creating an array of connecting boulevards.
2. In 2003 the 3,474 acres of the system was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  It includes the boundaries of 12 parks and the entire right-of-way of 6 parkways and 2 boulevards.

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: This document provides concepts for a proposed identity system for the Indianapolis Historic Parks and Boulevards System, including documentation of the historic Kessler lights.
Sanctioning Entity: City of Indianapolis
Year:
Key Ideas:

1. A signage system is proposed, with a built example in Watkins Parks, that incorporates the historic icon of the original Kessler lights as well as informational signage.
2. Examples of custom pedestrian lighting, street lighting, and street signage are also included.

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: The guidelines seek to promote multi-modal, complete streets by providing guidance on the design of the public right-of-way. Typologies of streets offer design metrics and priorities.
Sanctioning Entity: Metropolitan Planning Organization
Year: 2008
Key Ideas:

1. The guidelines provide guidance for 6 types of pedestrian districts and 11 types of corridors.

Item Type: Urban Design
About this Item: The Western Gateway Initiative is an idea that explores the cultural amenities in the area of 38th Street and Michigan Road and connections and placemaking efforts to promote them as a garden district.
Sanctioning Entity:
Year: 2007
Key Ideas:

1. A “garden district” trail system is proposed linking Crooked Creek, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Butler University, Marian College, Crown Hill Cemetery Riverside Park, and a series of historic landscapes.

Item Type: Watershed Plan
About this Item: The watershed plan includes information on land use in the watershed, sources of water quality problems, and identification of critical areas to be addressed. It provides goals, strategies, and metrics to address identified water quality problems.
Sanctioning Entity: Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District
Year: 2009
Key Ideas:

1. Water quality problems originate in agricultural practices, development erosion, septic systems, stormwater runoff, combined sewers, and fertilizers.
2. Critical areas to focus efforts include highly erodible soils, the Indian Lake watershed area, already eroded streambanks, golf courses, residential lakes, septic areas, livestock areas, and wellfield protection areas.
3. Goals include streambank stabilization, low impact development techniques, septic tank elimination, establishment of riparian buffers, changes to agricultural tilling practices, reductions in erosion and runoff from construction sites, and public education.