Indianapolis announces $5 million campaign for infrastructure improvements at MLK park

Indianapolis city leaders announced a $5 million campaign for needed infrastructure improvements at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city will commit $1 million to the fundraising campaign, which will focus on the 19th Street corridor. The improvements will go toward new sidewalks, lights and walkways.

“This park plays a unique role. More than any other, it tells a story about Indianapolis. To help this park do just that, the city is committed to contributing $1 million,” Hogsett said.

The campaign will increase resident engagement and better connect the park to the surrounding neighborhood, according to community leaders who spoke at a news conference Monday. Indiana State Representative Greg Porter (D-Indianapolis) was among them.

“With the capital campaign, with this building, this is what we're going to do, we're going to bring all those resources together to help make us a better community,” Porter said.

The announcement coincides with the 54th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and Senator Robert Kennedy’s historic speech in Indianapolis. Kennedy was in Indianapolis for his presidential campaign and announced King’s assassination to the community.

The park is home to the “Landmark for Peace” memorial, which was dedicated in 1995 and depicts Kennedy and King reaching out toward each other over a walkway.

Contact Katrina at kpross@wfyi.org and follow her on Twitter at @katrina_pross.

Pross is a Corps Member of Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project.