Downtown Indy to Gain New Car-Free Spaces

A portion of downtown Indianapolis will go ‘mostly car-free’ by 2025, according to an article by James Briggs in Axios Indianapolis. “The Monument Circle and Georgia Street projects stem from an effort the city launched last year — dubbed the Downtown Resiliency Strategy — to solicit feedback on best uses for downtown.”

In July, part of Monument Circle will be transformed into park space “with plans for a bar, beer garden, listening booth and public restrooms.” The program is slated to run through October and will inform decisions about the future of the space. 

Additionally, “The Capital Improvement Board is spending $750,000 on the temporary green space, which will have 24-hour policing, and the city tentatively plans to bring it back next year at an earlier date.”

The Georgia Street project would make walkability improvements and add seating landscaping, and opportunities for local businesses to take better advantage of the space. “Georgia Street would go car-free between Capitol Avenue and Illinois Street while remaining drivable between Illinois and Pennsylvania streets — with design features intended to discourage traffic.”