INDIANAPOLIS — Martindale-Brightwood calls itself the "Heart of the City." It now has a plan to keep that heart beating stronger than ever.
Community leaders unveiled the Martindale-Brightwood Quality of Life master plan on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The strategy will determine how Indianapolis invests in the neighborhood.
Martindale-Brightwood's top priorities are increasing its police presence, improving parks and trails, and developing activities and places for children to stay motivated outside of school.
Previous quality of life plans led to the renovation of Frederick Douglass Park and the construction of the new Martindale-Brightwood Library on 25th Street and Sherman Drive.
"It's been quite a journey, and we've faced our challenges, but the new developments in the area really gives me hope for the future," said One Voice Martindale Brightwood vice president Cierra Johnson, who was born and raised in the neighborhood. "I love to see all of the amenities that we have now that we didn't necessarily have when I was growing up."
"There's a stereotype of Martindale-Brightwood that it's crime-ridden with a lot of drugs and murders, but we see the other side of it as well," said fellow Martindale-Brightwood native Immanuel Ivey, who now works in the neighborhood with the Edna Martin Christian Center.
Ivey said the plan's success depends on people moving into the neighborhood and current residents staying for the long haul.
"A lot of times we felt like nobody even wanted to stop by the neighborhood," Ivey said. "In the '70s and '80s, everybody wanted to leave, but in the 2020s, everybody is coming back to the neighborhood."
-
Faith leaders discuss ways to stop suicides in Black community
More that 400 Black Hoosiers have died by suicide since 2018. Some Black faith leaders are now making mental health a priority in their community.
City of Lawrence taking first steps to create ‘Critical Response Team’
The City of Lawrence has launched a 'Critical Response Team' improve police transparency and accountability by partnering officers with community leaders across eight neighborhoods.
Events lineup for Juneteenth celebrations in Indy
The 8th annual Indy Juneteenth celebration to extend to the Indiana State Fairgrounds with six events throughout June.
New victim identified from Fox Hollow Farm
The latest identification brings the total number of victims identified to 10. This marks another step toward bringing closure to families of victims who have remained unidentified for decades.
