Good evening, everybody.

Thanks for coming.

This is the Parks and Recreation Committee of Indianapolis City County Council.

It's November 6th, 2025.

And we're here this evening to hear proposals number 314, 338, and 368.

And we're going to start out with proposal 314 that reappoints Joseph Wins to the Board of Parks and Recreation.

Ms.

Oh, of course, Rec.

Thank you, sir.

Introductions, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Jesse Brown representing District 13.

No.

Brienne Delaney, District 2 on the North Side.

Jessica Jessica McCormick, District 16.

Councilor Christa Carlino, District 11, West Side.

Councilor Jarrett Evans, District 17, West Side.

Thank you.

I'm sorry I was in such a hurry to get going here.

I forgot introductions.

Dan Boots, District 3.

I have the honor of chairing this committee, and we now shall start with proposal number 314 that reappoints Joseph Wins of the Board of Parks and Recreation.

Mr.

Wins, if you could please come to the podium there and explain a little bit of your intention, experience, and maybe future plans with respect to the board.

Thank you.

Thank you for the council to allow me to do this.

My name is Joseph Wins.

I am a 25-year park professional.

I've been in the park system since 1969.

I retired as parks director for under Mayor Bart Peterson.

And I'm fortunate, I guess I'm aging myself.

I I work for every mayor, starting with Mayor Luger, Bill Hartnett, Mayor Hardnut, Mayor Goldsmith, Mayor Peterson, and a little bit from Mayor Bow Mayor Ballard.

So I've been around.

And parks have been my passion.

I understand over those years how important parks play in the role of neighborhood revitalization, crime reduction, youth development, and it's a part of the economic trend.

I think one of the things I add to the system now is that some institutional knowledge as it moves into new eras and and new things.

And so I'm able to bring in that national level of the national movement as things are happening in parks.

Trying to, I guess, advocate for the park system.

Over the years, the park system have been not disenfranchised, but have been divided.

The things that need that things that that Brittany needs to make the system flourish, obviously sits in another department.

And over the years, we've been able, they've been able to move those things.

And one of the things I'm advocating now is how do we put this system back together?

How do we bring back in park maintenance forestry, greenways, land stewardship, all those pieces that make the park system flourish.

So Brittany would have an opportunity to control her destiny.

And so that's that's the charge I'm on.

And with that, obviously, by not having all of those things working in a harmonious way, you have a friction in the delivery of the maintenance.

And that's a major concern that we have to figure out a way to put this system back together as as it is directed by the park ordinance to put those things back in to make this system function like it should.

That system was basically put together on national research on how a system is to put together to deliver services.

But I'm not going to give up on it because it's something I believe in.

Those are my comments.

Thank you, Mr.

Wins.

Um questions from our counselors.

Yes, Councillor Delaney.

Um I just wanted to take this time to thank you for your service to our city and remind my colleagues that I got my start in city government interning for you in the parks department under Mayor Peterson a long time ago, and it's such an honor to be able to be here and um vote for you for your role.

You're perfect for the role, and we're honored to have you.

And I hope that our chair would allow me to be added as a co-sponsor to this um proposal.

Thank you.

Of course.

Anybody else?

Yes, Councillor Brown.

Thank you, Mr.

Wins.

I I just wanted to also uh send you some kudos just because I remember appointing you last year and both last year and this year.

I think out of all the committees I serve on and all the people who've come for board appointments, you've had the most uh experience perspective, you know, have a job that you can enunciate and and are and are working towards.

And I was gonna have questions about what's changed in the last year, and you preloaded that and you you answered it.

Um I happen to agree with all the things that you're pushing for, but even if I didn't, I think that the function of the board should be to have somebody with a real you know opinion and to bring kind of a political discussion about how do we solve these problems at the uh point of view.

So although I have not had the honor of knowing you nearly as long as Councillor Delaney, I would also ask to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Of course, um, clerk, have you caught those two co-sponsors?

Thank you.

Any further questions?

Hearing none, but here a motion.

Second, all right.

Motion being moved and seconded.

All those in favor of reappointing Joseph Wins to the Board of Parks and Recreation say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, same hearing none, thank you, Mr.

Wins.

Good luck this year, and uh, we'll be looking for your advocacy on the board.

Thank you very much, and thank you for your voteal confidence and letting me serve another year.

Thank you.

Wonderful.

Have a good evening.

Uh-huh.

Next proposal number 338, which approves a transfer of 1,178,000 and an additional appropriation of 3,622,000 in the 2025 budget of the parks and rec's general capital asset life cycle and development federal grant and city cumulative funds for the purpose of utilities, supplies, and contractual expenses.

Who do we have on board for that uh presentation?

I'm here, Mr.

Chair Brittany Crohn, Director of Indy Parks.

Wonderful.

Please proceed.

Mr.

Chair, we did have a few updates to share just of our activities in the last month.

If you would like us to skip those, we are more than happy to do so and uh send those around via email, or we can go through the slides that we have for you today.

Let's do the slides and do are you talking about the slides that we have already?

Yes, sir.

And then you have additional slides beyond those.

No.

Okay.

Let's go through these two proposals and then do your slides.

Okay.

Sounds good.

So if we could just speak briefly to um proposal, and I mark I marked it so much I can't read it now.

338.

338.

Um just walk us through that if you could, please.

So with this uh proposal, we uh just to provide an overview of the year-end uh proposal that we're bringing before you here this evening.

We will be dividing the proposal down into two parts: the appropriation of new funds and second, the funds transferred we are proposing.

For part one, we are simply appropriating interest earned from the Lilly Endowment Grant to cover existing grant project needs for Graham Edward Martin Parks environmental remediation for the change in scope of the comfort station at Geist Soccer Complex and to cover increasing costs for a range of other projects.

As a note, this funding will only go towards completing existing Lilly grant projects.

For the second part, covering the fund transfers, we are requesting the first section frees up funds for utility and contractual expenses.

The second section involves moving some of our federal grant money between characters to provide additional flexibility and ensure that we can contract high quality staff for our specialty camps and bring in qualified folks to lead our programs.

The third section is a fund transfer to cover our ISA reimbursement.

And with that, we are happy to take any questions about this proposal.

Any questions from the counselors?

Yes, Councillor Evans.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

So I'm clear the 3.6 million, is that the appropriation from the interest earned?

That's correct.

Okay.

And the 1.1 as a transfer from within the department.

Yes, that's correct.

Um just because when I was chair of parks, I recall a meeting at Eagle Creek over the geese soccer complex.

Can you elaborate on the updated scope of that?

I'd be happy to, and if it pleases the committee, um, I'd like to invite up our deputy director of construction and planning, Don Colvin, to elaborate on those improvements.

Um, I believe we also uh had those covered in some former committee meetings and board meetings, but it is uh our honor to present those again to you.

Well, you know, Mr.

Cullen's presentation tonight means you're coming out of and staying out of retirement.

I I cannot promise that.

Okay, please continue.

Happy to serve until that day.

Um so what the follow-up was we had several meetings after that.

We had a wrap-up meeting at Eagle Creek just before December of that year as a follow-up to that meeting and responding to the community's comments.

We moved the restroom from along the front of the park along the Greenway Trail to the back where the storage facilities are and where the portalets are.

Um that then we um went and designed the full build-out building that's gonna be pretty much it's a match for what we installed at the World Sports Park, but we had some additional costs, moving it back with the extension of the utility lines, and then originally we were only going to do a two-stall restroom, and then by moving it back, we then grew it to appropriate size restroom because that was one of the requests too, uh, to add additional stalls.

So I believe we have six stalls on one side, and then on the other side is th four urinals and two stalls or three stalls.

Then we have one one room that's uh sort of a mixed-use office space to support it in a little concession area.

It it again has a portico in the middle, it's not really for picnic tables, it's just sort of a gateway.

If it's raining now, guests could gather under there.

Restrooms are on one side, and the uh concession area is on it another side, but it is way at the back of the park, it's several thousand feet from any residential home.

It cannot be seen from the south, the north, or anything unless you're in the park.

Um, we are putting security cameras on it because security was one of the questions they brought up.

So there will be security cameras on the on the corners that go to the cloud so it could be monitored.

It will have security lighting at night, so it will not be a dock space.

One of the restrooms will uh most of them will be seasonal, um, like all of our other restroom facilities, but we are keeping one open year round, so it will be one conditioned restroom because a lot of guests use the trails throughout the park throughout the year.

It's just not for soccer, it's for the community.

So that one restroom will be conditioned and will be available throughout the year.

So uh we did go out one last time as a final wrap-up.

We were requ we tried to bring it before the Metropolitan Development Commission because it was on the master plan, but we had to get additional PK1 approval for it because the building exceeded the two restroom size uh Pike Township Residence Association asked for a contingent, so 30 days, which delayed the project for the rest of this year.

So we went back out to the Pike Township Residents Association and did another presentation.

Um here we are today.

The project's going to go forward.

We finally tentatively got their support, some of the people.

Um, and we're gonna go into construction in the spring of 2026.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate it.

Yes.

Any additional questions?

Uh I do have one, Director.

This land was this initially part of the Eagle Creek Park.

And was sold for or we still own it, but do we also own the adjacent land to which we sold or sold it to the Colts possibly?

Referring to the soccer complex?

Yes, and the that land.

Deputy Director, are you familiar with that?

Yes.

So this land was always part of Eagle Creek Park.

And remember, Eagle Creek Park was bought in in various different components over the years, but this was part of it.

Uh way, way back when the Colts first came here, they did carve out that one section of this 90 plus acres to give to the Colts as an incentive to come to the city of Indianapolis, and that's where the current Colts building is.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Any additional questions?

Do I hear a proposal or do I hear a uh motion?

Motion being made and seconded.

Um those in favor of passing proposal number uh 338 say aye.

Aye.

Aye as well.

Opposed.

Hearing none, it passes.

Thank you.

Next to proposal number 368, which approves a transfer of one million dollars from the Department of Public Works Stormwater Management Fund of the Department of Parks and Recreation Parks General Fund to isolate funds for urban forestry preservation.

This is a uh proposal that councillors Hart uh Barth and myself have uh championed.

It takes the million dollars that was set aside from the spring fiscal, and that just went to the storm fund.

I think is a convenient place to park the money initially, and we'd like to get that money out of DPW and into a parks dedicated fund that's intent is acquisition of land that's not tied to any stormwater issues.

So hence the uh request here.

Any additional questions?

Yes, Councilor Delaney.

Thank you, Counselor Boots.

Uh I my one million dollar allocation that we had last year.

I chose to um use it to purchase the Haversteck Creek Woods, and um there is talk about stormwater funds and all of these tree and land acquisition.

So I want to be clear, it's sitting currently in a stormwater fund, and now we're moving it over to parks general fund.

So it never that money was never actually tied to stormwater when it sat in the stormwater fund, is what I'm hearing because it's now just in a general fund.

So if you could clarify the the stormwater designation between point one and point two thank you for your question, counselor.

Um, if it pleases the committee, I'd like to invite our controller Abby Hansen up to address that question.

Hi.

Yes, you are correct.

It was originally income tax funds that we received from the state.

We transferred it toward the stormwater fund, then we took the store, and we haven't spent any of it, so now the stormwater funds are being transferred to parks.

And in parks it's unrestricted, yes.

Okay.

They unrestricted by we're going to use it for trees, but it's not restricted in terms of stormwater use.

Yes, from an accounting standpoint, stormwater funds have to be spent on stormwater projects.

And so if I'm being honest, it probably wasn't the best location at the time to put it, and just didn't think about that until later.

So, yes, we are moving it out of a restricted fund.

It is still for this purpose, but it it just keeps us from mixing unrestricted and restricted funds.

And given the amount of times I've asked you whether it's restricted just on this, I think that that's a great plan that we're moving it over to parks so there's no confusion as to whether it's restricted or not and what it can be used for.

So thank you.

Yep.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Controller Hansen, may I ask you to clarify an additional question?

Um currently in that stormwater mitigation fund, there's um at least two million dollars that has been set aside, suggested for urban forest preservation that has a stormwater issue tied to it, correct?

Yes, I believe that is in the capital plan.

Yes, and then do I also understand there will be a million dollars each year added for that purpose tied to stormwater mitigation?

I would say that that is it's dependent on what the Department of Public Works puts into their budget, but yes, they have allocated a million dollars starting in 2025 and continuing into 2026, I believe.

Um so presumably, yes, that would continue into 2027.

Wonderful.

All right, thank you.

All right, do I hear yes, Councillor Evans?

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

I'd just like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Clerk, do you catch that?

Wonderful.

Do I hear yes, Councillor Delaney?

I would also like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Sure.

All right, do I hear a motion?

So moved.

Okay.

Motion being made and seconded for proposal 368 that approves a transfer of one million dollars from the Department of Public Works Stormwater Management Fund to the Department of Parks and Recreation Parks General Fund to isolate funds for urban forestry preservation.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Thank you.

Now, Director Crohn, the floor is yours.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to share these updates and for all your questions.

Um, we really appreciate the engagement of this committee and for all of your dedication, Mr.

Chair, and to all of you.

So uh with the ongoing federal shutdown and the uncertainty around food access, we've been working with OPHS, which is the Office of Public Health and Safety, the administration, and our private sector partners to ensure that folks know where to turn for assistance.

In fact, just yesterday, our drive and dish program hit capacity at all six locations.

That's our partnership with the Pacers Sports Entertainment.

Thankfully, Indy Parks offers a range of other food resources in addition to the events being rolled out by OPHS.

These include food pantries at Riverside and Windsor Village Parks, our after school meals that are available to youth at a few park and mobile locations.

We also currently have food drives going at Brookside and Cranert Parks for folks looking to donate food items directly.

And a more recent addition, we have partnered with uh Second Helpings at seven locations to provide free meals.

I do want to pause here and thank our amazing food program team led by Tanya Jenkins, Amy Ratcliffe, and Marissa Coley, along with our staff at each of these locations.

This is one of many reasons why our parks are essential for so many folks.

We are in a unique position to bring food to people in their neighborhoods, and without our staff, that simply wouldn't be possible.

Anyone uh in our city can find more details on our website and on our social media platforms.

I also do want to thank our communications team because between Facebook and Instagram, our recent posts about food assistance and access have been viewed over a hundred thousand times.

So the impact is very real and measurable.

I'd also like to quickly run through a few major project updates from the last month.

First, we held a ribbon cutting for the beautiful new Franklin Township community park.

The renovation includes a new playground, trails, pickleball and basketball courts, and other site improvements.

One of six major renovations coming to parks in our southern three townships.

We are providing high quality new amenities across our city.

From the south side up to the north sides, we also broke ground on improvements to Psalm Park.

The project will also include a new playground pickleball courts, a shelter and upgrades to the existing tennis shelter as well as the restrooms.

Contractors have had a great start this fall with demolition and site work and aim to complete the project around the middle of next year.

And most recently, we had the opportunity to open up the new playground at Holiday Park with Councillor Delaney, Mayor Hogsett, and the Holiday Park Foundation.

This project was also kick-started by the Lilly Endowment and with uh the Holiday Park Foundation raising an impressive three million dollars to match that grant from the endowment.

Those funds uh raised by the foundation will also help to maintain this gorgeous new nature playground for years to come.

And of course, it's always extra fun when the kiddos are the ones getting to cut the ribbon.

So our team had a great time uh being witness to that exciting opening.

And that uh is all that we had for you this evening, Mr.

Chair.

Turn it back to you.

Well, thank you.

Um closing comments or questions from the council?

Council members, yes, Councillor Brown.

Thanks, Mr.

Chair.

Just very briefly wanted to thank you, Director Crohn for uh giving me the updates on Brookside Park uh before I had time to ask for them.

You were Johnny on the spot.

Appreciate that very much, and so do my constituents.

Thanks.

Right.

Hearing no further questions, we are adjourned.