The expansion will also meet up with the end of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.|Rendering courtesy of White River State Park
What’s white, wet, and $65 million? A newly announced White River State Park expansion.
Just after officials revealed new projects 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 15-acre slice of land.
Development will be conducted in two phases — here’s the breakdown of what they will include.
Kahn Pavilion will be open to for public use whenever a private event is not taking place.
Rendering courtesy of White River State Park
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 + a cafe. The space will be rentable for events of up to 500 people — park officials expect it will also 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.
The expansion will be located right off the Henry Street Bridge, which is also under construction.
Rendering courtesy of the White River State Park Commission
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 property 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.
Events
Events
Tuesday, Oct. 29
Let’s Give Food Drive | Tuesday, Oct. 29-Thursday, Dec. 5 | Times vary | Locations vary | Free | Drop off food to help feed 2,000+ local families during the holiday season.
Trunk or Treat | Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Skateland | $7 | Collect candy from themed cars + take to the rink in your best costume.
Pan’s Labyrinth | Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 7 p.m. | Indiana State Museum | $18 | Relive Guillermo del Toro’s emotional, eerie fairytale.
Max Adrian | Wednesday, Oct. 30 | 6:15-8 p.m. | Eskenazi Hall | Free | Hear the artist talk about the creative process for crafting his signature sewing-related works.
Thursday, Oct. 31
Halloween Latin Dance Glow Party | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 6 p.m.-2 a.m. | The Jazz Kitchen | $14+ | Get a free dance lesson, compete in a costume contest, and dance the night away to salsa, merengue, and reggaeton hits.
Friday, Nov. 22
Tonic Ball, Presented by Eskenazi Health | 7-11 p.m. | Fountain Square | $75 | This fun, one-night only festival that fights hunger through the mission of Second Helpings is right around the corner —grab your tickets before they’re gone.*
With near-record heat and high winds expected over the next few days, officials are asking Hoosiers to postpone outdoor burning. But Halloween will send a chill down your spine in more ways than one, with a cold front expected to move in Thursday. (WTHR)
Eat
Cunningham Restaurant Group’s newest eatery opened yesterday. Shin Dig (1351 Roosevelt St.) offers “pizza, wings, and boozy things,” plus an expansive outdoor patio space with fire pits + lawn games.
Travel
Spirit Airlines announced it’s launching a daily nonstop route from IND to Atlanta starting on Wednesday, May 7. It will also introduce a seasonal nonstop flight to New Orleans in February to coincide with Mardi Gras. (IBJ)
Opening
Just in time for holiday shopping, BJ’s Wholesale Club will open on Friday, Nov. 1 at 14400 Lowes Way in Carmel. It’s the company’s second location in Indiana + offers savings on groceries, gas, and more to members. (IndyStar)
Cause
Over the weekend, a fire destroyed the Helping Veterans and Family building + apartments, leaving 51 military veterans displaced. But Hoagies and Hops is stepping in to help with a fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 2, during which 15% of food sales will be donated to HVAF. (WTHR)
Family
Hamilton County officials plan to open a child care center in the county government building at 402 Lafayette Rd. in Noblesville. The first-of-its-kind center would serve county employees with the goal of becoming a 24-hour facility. (IndyStar)
Ranked
A new study from Remitly ranked Indianapolis as the No. 1 best aerial view in the US and No. 11 best in the world.The study was conducted by showing participantsaerial images of 96 popular destinations and tracking how long they looked at each location. Take that, NYC.
Exploring continuing education opportunities can be daunting — but it doesn’t have to be. We chatted with Michael Hasik, UIndy’s Director of Graduate Business Programs, to learn more about the ins and outs of the top-ranked MBA program, from program options to resources available to support students. Here’s the scoop.*
Health
Noise filtering, nearly invisible, rechargeable, long-lasting: Check, check, check, and check. This tiny hearing device turns noise into clarity, isolating the voices you care about for crystal-clear convos.*
Sometimes the scariest houses have the best candy, like this house that gives out full-size bars.|Photo by INDYtoday team
In just a few days, families will hit Indy’s streets dressed as superheroes, monsters, princesses, and everything in between in search of full-sized candy bars and what is apparently Indiana’s favorite Halloween candy, Skittles.
But which neighborhoods will keep your night the sweetest? We’ve rounded up a few of the most popular areas in Indy for trick-or-treaters.
Irvington| The delightfully decorated yards and porches of Irvington make it easy to tell that residents are friendly towards trick-or-treaters, not frightening. Reader Katy B. told us, “Irvington has a crazy showing. It’s always great, but it’s exceptional this year.”
Woodruff Place| A close stand-in for a movie Halloween town, the tall trees and Victorian homes lining these streets set a spooky scene for a sugary haul.
Meridian-Kessler| Known as one of Indy’s safest neighborhoods, the huge houses and family-friendly streets hold major promise for those on a full-sized mission.
The Buy
The Buy
A 60% off deal on an LED floor lamp perfect for your entertaining space. The minimalist lamp can be set to dozens of color combinations + light effects for the exact ambience you desire.
How was your Halloweekend, Indy? I replenished after Saturday shenanigans with a chai latte from Rosie’s Place, prepared by Lydia Deetz and rung up by Sally, of course.
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