White River State Park is an urban park in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Situated along the eastern and western banks of its namesake White River, the park covers 267 acres (108 ha). Civic leaders conceived initial plans for the park 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 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.
White River State Park is an urban park in Indianapolis. It is not part of the 32 properties managed by the Division of State Parks, a land management team within the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Restoration on this area began in the late 1980s when public attention fell on the Indiana Central Canal. The canal was engineered initially in the 1830s to ship goods through Indiana. Still, the project, as governed by the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, went bankrupt and the Indianapolis section of the canal was the only section ever dug. Although the channel was never used for its intended purpose, recent restoration and development have allowed the area to function as a cultural center within the city. One of the proposed focal points of the park, Indiana Tower, was never constructed.
The first attraction to call the Park home was the Indianapolis Zoo in 1988, with the White River Promenade as the northern boundary Trailway opening before the zoo. The following year, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art opened its door to the community. The Park soon became home to Indianapolis Indians Baseball in Victory Field, the state’s most giant IMAX Theater, the NCAA Hall of Champions Museum, the NCAA World Headquarters, the Indiana State Museum, and The Lawn at White River State Park (Concert Venue). A unique partnership of the state, city, federal governments, and private businesses constructed viable pathways for both pedestrians and vehicles in the park, including the Historic Central Canal Walkway, Historic Old Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge, Celebration Plaza, and other Park specific spaces, and various trails along the White River in the Park. Bed Bug Exterminator Indianapolis
Restaurants and Pubs
- Sauce on the Side is located at 130 S Pennsylvania St Suite 2, Indianapolis, IN
- Weber Grill Restaurants is located at 10 N Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN
- Coaches Tavern is located at 28 S Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN
Check out other attractions like Fort Harrison State Park
