What’s white, wet, and $65 million? A newly announced White River State Park expansion.
Just after new projects were revealed for the 40-acre Elanco Animal Health Inc. headquarters campus, now renamed Levee, The White River State Park Commission has unveiled details for its adjoining property. The 15-acre slice of land sits between the White River and Elanco’s new headquarters.
Development will be conducted in two phases — here’s the breakdown of what they will include.
Phase 1: The Anti-wrath of Kahn
Phase 1 of the expansion will focus on the 7.5 acres north of the forthcoming Henry Street Bridge. First up: Transforming the remnants of a former crane bay from the original stamping plant into an events pavilion. It will reportedly be named Kahn Pavilion, after architect Albert Kahn who helped design the original GM facility in the 1930s.
Kahn Pavilion will feature large retractable doors and a cafe. The space will be rentable for weddings, corporate events, and community gatherings of up to 500 people — park officials expect it will even able to accommodate stalls for seasonal farmers markets, yoga classes, and seminars.
According to renderings, the surrounding area will also feature:
- A new set of limestone stairs
- A scenic overlook of the White River and downtown
- A scramble hill + adventure bluff for active kids
- An event lawn
- A water plaza
Construction for this phase is expected to start in spring 2025 and wrap within 14-18 months.
Phase 2: The mystery unfolds
While detailed plans for Phase 2 have not yet been released, we know a couple things that will come into play:
- White River Parkway South will be rerouted to run along the western edge of the new park property, closer to the Elanco site, in order to free up more land along the river for recreation.
- Officials have confirmed that no part of the plans include watercraft access. With the expansion’s proximity to a low-head dam, recreational water sports are not considered safe.
