Park improvement projects underway across Indianapolis; Chapel Hill Park one of the latest to receive upgrades

Long-awaited improvements at numerous Indy Parks are underway all across the city. On the west side of Indianapolis, Chapel Hill Park is one of the parks that will receive a makeover.

The $2.6 million Chapel Hill project is funded by the Lilly Endowment Grant and part of the 2025 Indy Parks capital budget.

Indy Parks Chief Communications Officer Alex Cortwright said construction is now underway. 

“We're really excited that Chapel Hill Park was part of our kind of construction kickoff for 2025; we've got a lot of major projects starting and being completed this year across the city.”

The Lilly Endowment Fund gifted $80 million for improvements to Indy parks. The gift has allowed Indy Parks to increase investment and fast-track projects all around the city.

Additional federal relief funds and city appropriations have also contributed to record park investment at around $140 million.

Indy Parks said it worked closely with Chapel Hill United Methodist Church to hold public meetings and gain community insight on needed and wanted park improvements.

“We heard ‘we wanted to see improved play space’, so a new playground for kids. That was obviously a big piece of it,” Cortwright said. “We've also really seen a demand and interest in court sports, especially pickleball.”

The Chapel Hill Park upgrade is one of 10 on the west side to include new playgrounds. Right down the road, Krannert Park has a playground planned alongside nearly $11 million in other upgrades already completed at the family center, including a new indoor pool.

Cortwright said improvements aim to increase access for more people in Indianapolis neighborhoods. 

“It's also important that you can do that close to home, right, where you're not feeling like you have to drive halfway across the city to find a good park,” he said. “You want to make sure that those parks are in all neighborhoods, all sides of town, and really make sure that those are accessible and high quality spaces for folks.”

Indy Parks also announced park improvement in Franklin Township this week. A $2.8 million project also includes a new playground and pickleball court in addition to paved trails. Improvements for Tarkington Park were announced last month. 

According to Cortwright, Indy Parks is renovating and improving more than 40% of parks around the city.