On Feb. 11, the City of Beech Grove Parks Board and Parks Department hosted an open house to gather community feedback on a park five year plan.
Community members were able to share their thoughts through an online survey that was open between Jan. 4 and Feb. 5, and the open house was designed to share those thoughts and feedback.
The survey found that 31.93 percent of the participants visit parks on a weekly basis, and 26.05 percent visit the parks on a monthly basis. The majority of these participants use parks for their trails, playgrounds, and city events.
Amenities that were requested by survey participants (161 participants total) include a splashpad, pickleball court, bridge, more playgrounds, and better restrooms. One anonymous participant specifically requested “An actual pickleball court. Not painted lines on a basketball court that you are required to bring your own net to.” Another requested “Hammock posts and more murals featuring Beech Grove artists.”
Estimated costs of the requested projects include:
- Splashpad: $150,000 installation costs with $5,000-$40,000 in yearly maintenance
- Pickleball courts: $150,000 installation costs
- Community Indoor Pool: $488/square foot, $8MM+ build cost, $250,000+ yearly maintenance costs
- Toddler playground: $25,000
During the open house, participants shared post-it messages of additions and improvements they would like to see in the parks. Participants mentioned similar results to the survey, including updated bathrooms, upgraded playgrounds and trails, and pickleball courts. Other participants mentioned more dog waste bins, an ice skating rink, and moving a mural away from a reception area and into a hallway.
Next steps include the Parks Board and Parks Department reviewing the feedback from this meeting and finalizing a plan before April 15, which is the deadline set by the State.
Upcoming park events include The Bunny Hop Trail on March 29, Going Green in the Grove on April 26, and Touch-a-Truck on June 13.
For more information, contact parksboard@beechgrove.com.