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Regional Center Cultural Tourism Forum   Forum Resources
The second Regional Center Plan forum partnered the Regional Center Plan with the Cultural Tourism Initiative of Mayor Peterson. The Cultural Tourism Initiative seeks to make Indianapolis a cultural destination through the continued development, promotion, and enhancement of cultural and art assets. The forum discussed the relationship between two projects of the Cultural Tourism Initiative (Public Art Master Plan and Cultural Districts), as well as the Cultural Trail, an urban greenway project of the City of Indianapolis. Continued cultural enhancement is essential in making Downtown an attractive place to live, work, and play, and is also inherent to the success of the Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative, the focus of the first Regional Center Plan forum.

The forum, held April 22nd at the Indiana History Center, drew about 150 people in two sessions. At the forum, presentations were given on the Public Art Master Plan, the Cultural Districts Initiative, and the Cultural Trail planning efforts. Public comments and input was also gathered.
 

  
Forum Presentation
Cultural Tourism Website
Cultural Trail Website
 
 

 
Public Input Summary
At the Cultural Tourism Workshop held on April 22nd, two projects of the Indianapolis Cultural Tourism Initiative--the Public Art Master Plan and the Cultural Districts Initiative—were brought together with the Cultural Trail planning efforts and presented as a comprehensive cultural development package. A large component of this meeting consisted of soliciting the opinions and ideas of the over 150 members of the public in attendance.

Public input was gathered through a town-hall format and comment cards. Overall, attendees expressed strong support and enthusiasm for all three projects, and many saw how each separate project fit into an overall development initiative for the first time.

An important part of the discussion focused on two main questions:

“What would make you want to visit and patronize more frequently?” and “What’s missing?”

Included here are highlights of the responses to these two questions as reported during the discussion and on comment cards.

What would make you want to visit and patronize more frequently?

  • Build community asset, not individual assets or initiatives
  • Districts important (Mass. Ave., Indiana Ave, Wholesale District, etc.)
  • Get people here:
    • Create authentic places (architectural character and sense of place)
    • Delve into history
  • Develop place for 25-35 year olds
  • Develop place for families
  • Tour for High School seniors of IUPUI, Butler, etc. (create interest in Indianapolis)
  • Coordinate with people moving systems (IndyGo, Greenways, streets)
  • Improvements in Mass Transit (current and new systems)
  • Emphasize historic “mile square” Ralston Plan
    • West, South, East, North Streets
  • Bike racks will be needed for increased traffic on Cultural Trail
  • Thematic unity will create “longer” visit/critical mass
  • Celebrate seasons/outdoor experience
  • Where do we park to access Trail?
  • Art, Environment & Sports – as in the Olympics. (we would be a great site for an Olympic event)
  • More consistent hours and days of operation within districts
  • Create a grant process to create and promote art. This would include support of art in the schools! Look at projects like Indy Reads and apply to public art & cultural trails – make this a process for all community members.
  • Need a variety of activities to reach a wide audience

 What’s missing? Or other comments.

  • Adequate and attractive Mass Transit
  • Cultural Pass – One admission fee for many cultural institutions in the city
  • Gathering places
  • Places to sit, parks
  • Provide “stories” to inform visitors and residents on historic places in Indianapolis
  • Enhance assets (water)
  • Remove elevated interstate (I-65/70 inner loop) – Portland, OR; San Francisco
  • Would be great to have a “public art” exhibit on either American Legion Mall or Pan AM similar to the “Earth from Above” exhibit in Chicago
  • (This project) creates need for public restrooms, safety, and law enforcement resources, trash clean up, lighting, etc. How will these be funded on an ongoing basis?
  • Marketing to non attendees with messages appropriate. (the campaign of Fall 2002 missed the mark big time)
  • Street Vendors selling ice cream, tacos, etc.
  • Bike rental will be feasible with success of Cultural Trail
  • Street Musicians
  • Beautiful signage in multiple languages