INDIANAPOLIS-- Big plans are underway to build a half mile riverwalk promenade connecting Broad Ripple Village and Broad Ripple Park.
RTV6’s Kara Kenney got a sneak peek at the plans and is working for you to find out how much it will cost you the taxpayer.
Currently, Broad Ripple Village is the only cultural district that’s located outside of downtown, and the Broad Ripple Village Association wants to make sure it remains a world-class amenity.
Broad Ripple has shops, restaurants, the White River, the Monon Trail, and Broad Ripple Park but they’re not well connected.
RTV6 obtained the plans for the Broad Ripple Village Riverwalk Promenade, which aims to create a pedestrian and bicycle path along Broad Ripple Avenue and connects the park, village, trail and the Red Line.
"The idea is to create a safer, more pedestrian and bike friendly path," said Joshua John, Broad Ripple Village Association President. “We want to create a wider path so moms in strollers feel safe as opposed to walking a sidewalk along a busy road."
The estimated cost of the project is $3 million.
Half will come from a city Department of Public Works infrastructure grant, but because it’s a matching grant, riverwalk supporters will have to come up with the rest of the funding.
John said they have to come up with $700,000 by the end of 2018.
“We have some fundraising to do, but without any publicity or fundraising efforts to date we have secured over $65,000,” said John.
City-County Councilor Colleen Fanning, who is also the BRVA executive director, said they’re working hard to make sure they raise the matching funds in time.
“We've applied for a big Lilly grant that would take care of the matching portion," said Fanning.
Approximately $100 million in private investment is going into Broad Ripple with new apartments and mix use development.
"We're going to have a thousand new residents filling those bedrooms,” said John. “We feel it's important to create the infrastructure and amenities to keep those people here and live in this community."
A somewhat similar idea for a Broad Ripple boardwalk failed back in 2014, but the BRVA says this riverwalk project is very different.
"Part of the reason was that was going to lower into the bank and the DNR didn't approve of that,” said John. “This will actually enhance the bank a little bit. Make it safer, build up the riverbank."
Concerned citizen and river activist Clarke Kahlo is concerned about the cost and impact of the project.
“This is a re-do of the BRVA's failed 2014 boardwalk plan,” said Kahlo, Program Director, Protect Our Rivers Now. “While there would be less intrusion on the river corridor, this "expanded sidewalk" would be a costly adornment. The $3 million cost is excessive.”
RTV6 asked Fanning about the cost of the project.
“Half of it is a grant from DPW so that half is taxpayer money, but we're doubling the value of taxpayer money with this project,” said Fanning. “It really is a great value for an amenity that we would never be able to afford another way."
Broad Ripple competes with neighborhoods like Mass Ave, Fountain Square and downtown for visitors.
However, John said it’s not just about attracting people from Indianapolis to Broad Ripple.
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“We want to make sure we create the communities all over that visitors want to come to,” said Joh. I’m of the opinion that a rising tide raises all boats. We want to be a shining example like Mass Ave and Fountain Square, and it’s not necessarily about competing with them as it is having similar amenities.”
The BRVA hopes visitors will use the Monon Trail, Tow Path, or the Red Line to come into Broad Ripple and spend the day.
The plan is to break ground on the riverwalk promenade in 2019 and finish in 2020, if not sooner.
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