Through the Lift Indy initiative, over $1 million was invested to renovate and enhance Kelly Park in the historic Old Southside neighborhood in Indianapolis, Indiana. Browning Day, a local landscape architecture firm, was responsible for the project management, community engagement, and overall design of the reimagined, 1.5-acre urban park as part of a wider movement to transform several Indianapolis neighborhoods.
Browning Day embraced voices from the Concord Neighborhood Center, which shares use of this park, as well as community members and other stakeholders to gather insights that guided the park's redesign. Setting aside preconceived notions about what improvements should be made, these community open houses ensured that the program and design features would reflect the desires and needs of those who call the neighborhood home.
The revitalized park was envisioned to be more than just a greenspace-it was designed as a community gathering place with a large, iconic picnic shelter for hosting concerts and celebrations, separate playgrounds for 2-5 year olds and 5-12 year olds, a perimeter walking loop, and fitness equipment spread throughout the park to encourage healthy living.

 
The central play structure is eye-catching in height, expanse, and color, and is surrounded by bold, colorful, poured-in-place rubber surfacing so that visitors of all abilities can enjoy the park and its amenities. Feedback from the community open houses revealed a desire to have play areas offering sensory play, climbing elements, and swinging opportunities. The larger, 5-12-year-old playground features a long climbing structure, various swings, and spinner that meet those desires. This area offers seven elevated play activities and five ground-level play activities.
Nearby, the 2-5-year-olds have a size-appropriate play structure to enjoy. Although it is smaller, it still offers great play value with two elevated play activities and two ground-level play activities. This play area also provides a spinner bowl for the little ones and a two-person swing for children to experience and enjoy the activity of swinging while facing their parent or guardian. This smaller play area achieves similar play experiences requested by the community, but with a focus on the younger children.
A looping sidewalk bisects the play areas and surrounds the central lawn and picnic shelter. The path also runs alongside the other adult fitness area with the Pull Up Bar Pro station, which is unique in its color and form. This station invites users to test their pull up skills and provides horizontal bars to help users decrease bodyweight during the exercise and work their way up in intensity.
Masonry columns and decorative fencing provide a safe separation from adjacent roadways and are integrated with park signage to provide a welcoming environment.
Kelly Park stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and community-driven design. As just one component of a larger revitalization effort, it embodies the spirit of resilience and renewal that defines the Old Southside neighborhood. Browning Day is honored to have played a role in creating a space that enriches the lives of those living and working in the Old Southside.

TEAM LIST:
Client: Indianapolis Parks and Recreation
Owner's Representative: J.S. Held
Civil Engineer: JPS Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineer: Circle Design Group
General Contractor: Jungclaus-Campbell