Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting: July 10, 2025

The Parks and Recreation Committee of the Indianapolis City-County Council met on July 10, 2025, at 5:30 PM under the chairmanship of Councilor Dan Boots. The committee considered two proposals: the appointment of Trina Routabush to the Indianapolis Greenways Development Committee and the mayoral appointment of Brittany Crohn as Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. An update on Indy Parks operations and ongoing projects was also presented.

Consent Calendar

• Proposal 215: The committee unanimously approved the appointment of Trina Routabush to the Indianapolis Greenways Development Committee. Ms. Routabush, a lifelong Indianapolis resident with a background in marketing, communications, and government affairs, expressed her commitment to a walkable, pedestrian-friendly city. Councilors Bain and Delaney spoke in support, citing their professional and personal experiences with her.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lauren Rodriguez (Ableton Fall Creek) spoke in strong support of Brittany Crohn’s appointment, highlighting her passion, community engagement, and ability to connect people to resources. She recounted recruiting Ms. Crohn for a CCO role at OPHS based on her proactive LinkedIn updates.
• Maggie Adams McBride also supported Ms. Crohn, calling her “beyond an exceptional human being” and emphasizing her prioritization of community needs, even while facing opposition to the administration. She stated that Ms. Crohn’s appointment is “absolutely a good decision.”

Discussion Items

• Indy Parks Update (Brittany Crohn): Ms. Crohn introduced herself as a lifelong Indianapolis resident and the appointed interim director. She outlined her background in community outreach, public health, and communications. Key priorities discussed included:
  • Public safety: Welcoming the first park safety administrator (Eric Davenport), who is touring parks and strengthening relationships with IMPD and OPHS, aiming to build a non-law enforcement park ranger team.
  • Maintenance: Acknowledging challenges with DPW responsibilities for park maintenance; expressed willingness to explore shifting more maintenance back to the parks department.
  • Funding: Recognizing tighter budgets ahead but pledging to protect investments, including Lilly Endowment and ARPA funds.
  • Lilly Endowment projects: Six projects out for bid (South Westway Park, Song Park, Major Taylor Skate Park, Garfield Park, Frank Park, and a group of playgrounds at six parks). Completed ARPA playgrounds at Washington and Oscar Charleston Parks.
  • Statistics: Over 40% of the city’s 132 playgrounds have been replaced or are under construction via combined ARPA and Lilly grants.
  • Pools and splash pads: Encouraged use; acknowledged pool downtime issues (e.g., Krannert Park’s new pool down for over two years due to parts/HVAC, recently reopened).
• Discussion on Proposal 214 (Brittany Crohn’s appointment):
  • Councilor Jesse Brown expressed personal respect for Ms. Crohn and acknowledged her responsiveness but stated he would vote “no” based on policy against confirming director-level appointments under the current administration, citing budget and resource constraints. He noted anonymous feedback both critical and supportive.
  • Councilor Frank Mascari dismissed anonymous letters and pledged support.
  • Councilor Jared Evans voiced support but raised concerns about long-term funding sustainability, pool closures, and the need for a strategic plan—possibly consolidating pools or finding new revenue. He called for leadership to address structural challenges.
  • Councilor Jeff Kamacormick emphasized the importance of park maintenance (low-hanging fruit like weeds, trash) and urged a review of fee structures to increase revenue, noting that some fees (e.g., solid waste) have not increased since 1992. He encouraged partnerships with the Parks Alliance.
  • Chair Dan Boots echoed maintenance concerns and supported a shift of DPW maintenance responsibilities back to parks.

Key Outcomes

• Proposal 215: Passed unanimously; forwarded to full council with a “do pass” recommendation.
• Proposal 214: The committee voted to approve the appointment of Brittany Crohn as Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The voice vote showed all in favor; Councilor Brown had stated he would vote no but did not call out a dissent during the formal vote. The appointment will proceed to the full council.
• Next Steps: Ms. Crohn will continue her listening tour of park facilities, work on public safety initiatives, and collaborate with the council on maintenance and budget priorities. The park safety administrator will continue assessing parks and building relationships.