INDIANAPOLIS—Something very good was happening Friday in a near west side Indianapolis neighborhood that sees its share of troubles.
About 60 IU Health employees were volunteering their time to bring new life to Frank Young Park, a small City of Indianapolis park tucked into the neighborhood near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and West 29th Street.
On a hot and humid morning, the volunteers mulched, weeded, painted and cleared debris from the park and the alleys around it.
Similar work took place Thursday at JTV Hill Park near East 16th Street and Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue and at Graham Martin Park on West 16th Street.
"We're mulching playgrounds and making the community better overall. In Indy Parks, we have 211 parks and we could not do it without the help of our volunteers," said Dominic Cornett, Senior Manager of Community Partnerships for Indy Parks and Recreation.
Sharon Tompkins, a 40-year resident of the neighborhood was very happy to see the work going on down the street from her house. "It means a whole lot to us. It invites people in and it excludes crime because if the people look like they care about where they live and their property, people will be hesitant to commit crimes in the neighborhood," said Tompkins.
Tompkins hopes neighborhood children will be attracted to the park and its playground equipment. "It's inviting, it's inviting when they can come and relax and not be fearful and be able to be kids," she said.
