“Garfield Park – the oldest city park – was designated in 1873 as Southern Park, right on what was then the southernmost border of Indianapolis. The first streetcar line reached us in 1895 – the rails of which were exhumed during the building of the bus rapid transit line in 2018. Envisioned in the Indianapolis master plan by landscape architect George Kessler himself, Garfield Park was outlined, from the beginning, as one of the first publicly accessible assets of the city. It was seen as a place where people of all backgrounds could have the opportunity to find serenity and connection through nature.

Garfield Park is a place for family reunions, for community-supported youth ball, for lending libraries and food distribution. It is a place for a retreat, for a jazz fest, Irish fest, first dates and play dates. It hosts Saturday farmer’s markets and community clean-ups, as well as a neigh-bor-organized arts and music festival. Garfield Park – the neighborhood – is a place for public artwork, for neighbor-owned businesses and neighbor-led community development. It is a cultural hub. Garfield Park is not the magical emerald castle at the end of a long gold-bricked road.

It’s a lush grounding representation of our home, that meets you where you are. It is a refuge for everyone.”

Carlie Foreman