Residents Express Frustration With Indy Parks

Indy Parks Environmental Education & Outreach Administrator Jeff Ward.

Photo by Jay Thompson

(posted Mar 24)

Jeff Ward of Indy Parks could not neutralize the tensions between neighborhood residents and Pike Youth Soccer over the concern of building an indoor soccer facility at 56th and Reed Road. Although the plans are in the conceptual phase, the lack of communication is creating angst among residents.

A representative from Pike Youth Soccer, who declined to be identified for this story, denied that he has not attempted to communicate the plans. He said he has met with the Eagle Creek Park Foundation Advisory committee and planned to meet with the neighborhood associations soon.

He blamed Pike Township resident Jeff Miller for not giving him the contact names. Miller said this issue represents a broken system within Indy Parks that once they form public-private partnerships, Indy Parks becomes "myopic" to the plan, and the neighborhoods become disfranchised. The residents have become an "afterthought" for the park and soccer club to communicate with.

Miller said the soccer fields would not be in existence today if it was not for the surrounding neighborhoods that fought to save the corner from development in earlier years. Indy Parks and the Pike Youth Soccer Club formed a partnership in 2005 to develop the complex with 14 adult soccer fields.

Miller said this is not a singular issue. He said when IMPD involves the community the residents are perceived as stakeholders, but with Indy Parks, residents are seen as "naysayers"or "remonstrators." He blamed this ineffective system for causing the tension and discouraging people from coming to the table to see how they can help. "The system needs to be resolved," he said.

Ward disagreed with Miller's opinion about the lack of communication by saying "The situation needs to be resolved, not the system." He used another example by saying that the parks department has regularly informed residents that it will be cutting back on mowing to save money by planting prairie and native grasses.

Miller raised the issue at District 6 City County Councilor Janice McHenry's March 22 town hall meeting. McHenry, who serves on the parks and recreation committee, said she has only heard bits and pieces of the issue.

Robert Foster, HOA president of the Trees, showed his frustration at the meeting because he too has not been contacted by the soccer club about the proposed indoor soccer facility.

Eagle Creek Woods resident Don Rothenberger also shared complaints. He said he raised the issue to Ward so he would have answers from Indy Parks at the March 25 Comprehensive Plan public meeting. Rothenberger complained that poor drainage from the soccer fields still exists and is encroaching into the subdivisions of Eagle Creek Woods and The Trees. He also wanted to know why the parking lots were not paved, noting that fugitive dust is considered a pollutant.

Miller unleashed more of his frustrations about Indy Parks. "As a neighbor, I take great exception to the fee increases for Eagle Creek Park." Miller thought the fee structure was too high, charging $5 per person to walk-in and $5 per car car, or $50 for a yearly pass. The fee structure discourages people to walk or ride bikes to the park especially on Knozone action days. He requested that free bus rides be offered to the public who visit the parks. He did not understand why Eagle Creek Park has such high fees when Central Park and Golden Gate Park are free.

He used the word abhorrent to describe his feelings about the dues paying requirement as a condition to vote on Eagle Creek Park Foundation Citizen Advisory Committee.

Ward said that Indy Parks does not control the 50 advisory groups affiliated with the parks. The department just assists with the formation.

Miller contended that was the problem. "You should be in control," he said.

Pike Township Fire Marshal Steve Jones requested a water safety program be developed to prevent drownings at Eagle Creek Reservoir. The reservoir averages about 3 to 4 drownings a year, not including pool or pond drownings. Pike Township has more fatalities due to drownings than fire.

Harry Maginity of INDOT updated residents about the $74.8 million Accelerate 465 project. He told the group to start expecting lane changes to shift to the east by April or May. The projection of increased traffic is the major factor for the lane expansion. Gas prices have not caused people to give up their cars for mass transit. Although a rapid trail corridor has been looked at from Indianapolis to Chicago, the numbers of riders still do not justify the cost. He said studies conducted two years ago predicted when gas hit $3.50 a gallon, people would use mass transit. Gas prices have now hit the mark and it has not changed America's love for its independence to drive cars.

Resident Dennis Foreman noted that the quality of road projects seem to be deteriorating and marked the example of the 2003 Hyperfix 65/70 and the exit ramp at 465 and east 56th Street. "The car literally chatters going around the ramp," he said.

Maginity said "If you are seeing these things, make a statement. I'm serious."

He said these things happen because of the requirement to use low bids when dealing with federal funds. He said Indiana is one of the few states with federal highway money to spend, so contractors from Illinois and Ohio are coming to bid on projects.

Foreman also disliked the noise barrier walls that are included in the Accelerate 465 project. The walls are blocking views of the town's wide open space. He described the view now as more like a "prison".

Miller said he served on the citizen advisory group and the engineers said the neighborhoods adjacent to 465 qualified for walls. He said the group recommended placing an embossed Eagle on the wall for decor.

Maginity explained neighborhoods are eligible for noise barriers if the decibel level exceeds 67dB. The wall can reduce the noise by five decibels. Although no specific date was given, motorists can expect the 56th Street south bound ramp to close for five or six weeks for repairs. Rothenberger requested to hold off closing the ramp until the 38th Street bridge project is completed in order to reduce traffic flow problems.