Riverside Regional Park Master Plan

Reimagining a Regional Park for the People

First open to the public in 1899, Riverside was once the crown jewel of Indianapolis’ parks and boulevards system. Its modern footprint is 862 acres — 22 more than New York’s Central Park. After more than a century, the time had come to reinvigorate Riverside.

Our design approach balanced local needs with regional amenities to maximize the park’s potential as a destination and an economic driver for the city. We also worked with neighbors to understand their needs, desires, and ideas for the future, and trust was built one conversation at a time.

The City of Indianapolis recognized an opportunity to return a grand and beautiful place to its former glory, reframed for our current time.

John Jackson PLA, LEED AP

Principal / Director of Landscape Architecture

A Good Walk

Riverside Golf Course (once off-limits to non-golfers) has been repurposed as an ecological park open to all; cart paths are now walking trails, dotted with public art installations.

Monumental Ampitheatre

The Taggart Memorial monument was rehabilitated and enhanced to become the Taggart Memorial Ampitheatre, a 650-seat performance venue.

20-year Master Plan

The master plan outlines $120M in improvements over 20 years, including a new aquatics center, walking trails, baseball and softball fields, arts and entertainment, and expanded cycling opportunities.