This tour focuses on the history of the Riverside Park and its surrounding neighborhood

WELCOME TO RIVERSIDE

This tour is a part of the Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis Tour Series. It is endorsed by the Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission as an 'Official Indy Bicentennial Community Project.'

This is a driving tour, but feel free to park and enjoy the different stops or bike the same path!

Neighborhood History

The Riverside Neighborhood boasts a rich history with roots in the City Beautiful movement.

Early in the 1900’s, real estate developers and local landowners saw the opportunity to create a community that would be accessible by the newly expanded downtown transportation system. The “streetcar suburb” would feature landscaped traffic circles, generous front yard set-backs, wide boulevards, and glacier boulder retaining walls. A George Kessler designed park, Indianapolis’ first zoo, and the now-demolished Riverside amusement park, followed the success of the planned community.

Today, Riverside enjoys a wide array of amenities and boasts a diverse and active neighborhood community. Amenities include the Thomas Taggert Amphitheater with a Family Center with pool and play grounds, picnics, muncipal gardens, Kuntz Soccer stadium, soap box derby course, Colts playground, velodrome, boat ramps, three golf courses, and three near by universities. Additionally, there is connecting linkage to nature trails: White River, canal towpath, and Fall Creek. Future projects include The Riverside Hertiage Promenade and The Nature and Adventure Park for Indianapolis.

WANT TO LEARN MORE OR TAKE OTHER TOURS?

• Visit Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis Tours at: tours.HUNIIndy.org
• Visit Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis at: HUNIndy.org
• Visit the Riverside Civic League to learn more: https://www.discoverriverside.org/rcl
• Learn more about upcoming projects at www.RiversidePromenade.org

Our Thanks

This program has been made possible through a Historic Preservation Education Grant from Indiana Landmarks, Indiana Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Funding provided in part by Indiana Landmarks.

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