tarkington park conceptual master plans

TARKINGTON PARKMASTER PLANa destination urban park with a distinctive sense of place that celebrates the community’s diverse history and culture, attracts a wide variety of users, and provides a distinctive park experience

Community Design Workshop | July 10 - 13, 2012

R U N D E L LERNSTBERGERA S S O C I A T E S

URBAN DESIGN + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | www.reasite.com URBAN DESIGN + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | www.reasite.comURBAN DESIGN + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | www.reasite.com

TARKINGTON PARK | design team & park stakeholders

MLK Community CenterNorth United Methodist ChurchTarkington Tower40 North TowerMidtownButler Tarkington Neighborhood AssociationMeridian Kessler Neighborhood AssociationMeridian Street FoundationMapleton Fall Creek Development CorporationWatson-McCord/Historic WatsonCrown Hill Development CorporationIndianapolis Museum of ArtButler UniversityChildren’s MuseumIndiana State FairgroundsCentral Indiana Community FoundationIndiana LandmarksDepartment of Public SafetyPublic WorksIndy Parks & RecreationEconomic DevelopmentMetropolitan DevelopmentMayor’s Offi ceCity County CouncilParks BoardCommunity Residents



TARKINGTON PARK | master planning process

1. Study the Existing Park2. Midtown Indianapolis Initiatives3. Stakeholder Input a. Park Neighbors b. Community Groups c. Potential Partners d. City Employees e. Open Public Session4. Present Conceptual Alternatives5. Prepare DRAFT Master Plan6. Present Master Plan to Stakeholder Groups7. Master Plan Adopted by the Board of Parks & Recreation

Midtown Conceptual Plan

Crown Hill Cemetery

Crown Hill CemeteryBertha Ross

Park

Christian Theological

Seminary

White River

IndianapolisCanal

Andrew Ramsey Park

James Whitcomb Riley School#43

McCordPark

Watson RoadBird Preserve

Elwood & Mary Black Park

38th Street

Pennsylvania Avenue

Meridian Street

Illinois Street

Fall C

reek

Par

kway

IndianapolisMuseum

of Art

Butler University

Tarkington Park

Indiana State Fairgrounds

Mon

on R

ail-T

rail

Fall C

reek

Gre

enway

WoodstockCounty Club

LEGENDReligious Center

Fire Station

Library

Education

Police Station

North

TARKINGTON PARK | vicinity map

Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association

Meridian-Kessler NeighborhoodAssociation

Mapleton-Fall CreekCommunity Development

Corporation

Watson-McCordNeighborhood

Association

Maple Road Development Association

Mer

idia

n St

reet

Fou

ndat

ion

Crown-Hill Community Development Corporation

Tarkington Park

38th Street

Pennsylvania Avenue

Illinois Street

Michigan Street

Fall C

reek

Par

kwayM

onon

Rai

l-Tra

ilFa

ll Cre

ek G

reen

way

TARKINGTON PARK | community connections

Tarkington Park

39th Street

40th Street

Resurfaced Tennis Courts

Basketball Court

Open GrassField

FormerBaseball Diamond

Parking(26 Spaces)

Parking(22 Spaces)

Multi-AgePlayground

FormerTennis Shelter

Location 40 North Tower

UnitedWay

Nuvo

Tarkington TowerMartin Luther KingCommunity Center

North United Methodist Church

Commercial Node

Double8 Foods

CommercialStrip

LargeHill top

Shade Tree Plantings

& Berm

Shade Tree Plantings

Tree Grove

PicnicShelter

Merid

ian Street

Illinois Street

Kenwood

Avenue

TARKINGTON PARK | existing features

LEGEND

Hydrant

Sanitary Man Hole

IPL Power or Light Pole

Water Line

Sanitary Line

IPL Power Easement

North

40 North Tower

UnitedWay

Nuvo



Commercial Node

Double8 Foods

Tarkington Park

39th Street

40th Street

Merid

ian Street

Illinois Street

Kenwood

Avenue

CommercialStrip

TARKINGTON PARK | existing utilities

North

Tarkington Park

39th Street

40th Street

40 North Tower

UnitedWay

Nuvo



Commercial Node

Double8 Foods

Merid

ian Street

Illinois Street

Kenwood

Avenue

LEGENDAsh

Red Oak

Sycamore

Crabapple

Red Bud

Hackberry

Sweet Gum

Sugar Maple

White Pines

White Spruce

Austrian Pine

North

TARKINGTON PARK | existing vegetation

TARKINGTON PARK | existing topograhy

742

740738736

736734

734732

734

732

732

730

730

730

730

734

734736

Tarkington Park

39th Street

40th Street

40 North Tower

UnitedWay

Nuvo



Commercial Node

Double8 Foods

Merid

ian Street

Illinois Street

Kenwood

Avenue

1937

1986

1956

1995

1961

2002

1976

2010TARKINGTON PARK | aerial photography

1 MILE RADIUS FROM

TARKIN

GTO

N PA

RK

2 MILE RADIUS FROM TARKINGTON PARK

3 MILE RADIUS FROM TARKINGTON PARK

Those who live closer to Tarkington Park spend slightly less on entertainment every year.

The majority of housing types near Tarkington Park are single unit homes built before 1969. 20+ unit

apartments are 2nd most common.

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

1 1 2 3 or 4

5 to 9

10 to 19

20+

77%live in units

4 or less

68%live in a oneunit house

196990% of homes

built before

Units per Building

Perc

enta

ge o

f Liv

ing

with

in 1

, 2, a

nd 3

mile

s of T

arkin

gton

Pa

rk.

Housing Types25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0 to 4

5 to 9

10 to 14

15 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 to 84

85+

The median age is 33.4 and nearly half the surrounding population is 35

or younger.

49%of residents are

under 35

2.3average

houshold size

67%of residents are

black

20.7%

Resident Age

Perc

enta

ge o

f Age

with

in 1

, 2, a

nd 3

mile

s of T

arkin

gton

Par

k.

Population Age

30.630.6%%

33.133.1%%

$54.9$54.9$54.1$54.1

$55.2$55.2

The study area is a split between rental and ownership households. Further, 1 out of 3 live near poverty but 80%

graduated high school.

$

3333%%33.233.2%%

36.436.4%%

8181%%79.779.7%%

81.181.1%%

High School or GED

CollegeDegree

National National Average Average at 85%at 85%

National National Average Average at 40%at 40%National National

Average Average at 33%at 33%

31.631.6%%

National National Average Average

at 46kat 46k

NationalNational Ownership Ownership

at 67%at 67%

39.939.9%%39.439.4%%41.741.7%%

National National RentalRentalat 20%at 20%

National National VacantVacantat 11%at 11%

2020%%2222%%2020%%

40.140.1%%37.637.6%%

38.338.3%%

HomeOwner

Renters

Ownership Type

Cost of EntertainmentThose who live closer to Tarkington Park drive alone less, and

carpool and use alternative transportation types more than those who live within 2 or 3 miles from the park.

Those who drive or carpool to work on average own one car per household.

66.2

%66

.2%

69.3

%69

.3%

72.8

%72

.8%

Drive Alone Work at Home

3.5%

3.5%

3.1%

3.1%

3.2%

3.2%

Public Trans.

9.0%

9.0%

7.0%

7.0%8.4%

8.4%

Bike or Walk

7.3%

7.3%

4.5%

4.5%5.4%

5.4%

Car Pool

14.0

%14

.0%

12.6

%12

.6%

13.7

%13

.7%

Transportation Modes to Work

42.7%25.5%

7.6%7.66%6

0.8%0.88%%%%%%1.3%1.33%

22.1%

Tarkington Park

Study area shown within 1, 2, and 3 mile radius from Tarkington Park.

EntertainmentExpenditures

$950 spent annually from hom

es within 1 mile of Tarkington Park


es within 2 m

ile of Tarkington Park


es within 3 m

ile of Tarkington Park Education Attainment

At or Near Poverty

attached

detached

TARKINGTON PARK | demographics and housing

TARKINGTON PARK | Booth Tarkington

Newton Booth Tarkington (July 29, 1869 – May 19, 1946)

Born in Indianapolis to a family of moderate wealth and with important political connections, Booth Tarkington is best remembered for his two Pulitzer Prize-winning novels, The Magnifi cent Ambersons and Alice Adams. Having started writing plays and short stories at an early age, he continued his writing into adulthood, eventually becoming one of the most popular American novelists of his time. His published works include over 50 novels, plays, essays and short stories. Many of his novels have been adapted for the stage and screen, including The Flirt and Seventeen, both originally published as serials in popular magazines. His fi rst novel, The Gentleman from Indiana, was also published in installments before eventually being reprinted and translated into six languages. Two of his novels were annual best-sellers nine times, and The Magnifi cent Ambersons (the second book of his Growth trilogy) was named one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.

Through the Growth trilogy (The Turmoil, The Magnifi cent Ambersons, and The Midlander), Tarkington portrays the changes that occurred in the American social landscape between the Civil War and World War I, a period of rapid industrialization. The declining fortune of the aristocratic Amberson family is contrasted with the “new money” of the industrial tycoons.

Believable characters and a focus on typical middle-class families were the result of a shift in Tarkington’s writing from romance to realism. His stories depicted people and society as they really were, often dealing with the foibles of the American class system. The comical adventures of young Penrod Schofi eld in the Penrod novels, were based on the antics of Tarkington’s nephews and his own boyhood memories.

Small towns in Indiana were the setting for many of his novels. Woodruff Place, the Indianapolis neighborhood where he once lived, was the inspiration for The Magnifi cent Ambersons. Designed to provide residents with a park-like setting, the affl uent neighborhood began to experience a gradual decline in the late 1910s as a result of increased automobile use. Tarkington’s forward-thinking on the impact of automobiles upon society was expressed through the dialogue of characters in the novel: “But automobiles have come, and they bring a greater change in our life than most of us suspect. They are here, and almost all outward things are going to be different because of what they bring.” (The Magnifi cent Ambersons, p. 137)

In addition to being an author and playwright, he was also an actor, illustrator, editor, art collector and Indiana legislator. He viewed public service as a responsibility of gentlemen in his socioeconomic class; and, although he served only one term in public offi ce, he maintained a political presence his entire adult life. His political experiences were the basis for In the Arena: Stories of Political Life, a collection of short stories. He attended Purdue University and Princeton University, and was awarded honorary degrees from both institutions, as well as from Columbia University and several others. Buildings named in his honor include Indianapolis Public Elementary School #92, Purdue University’s Tarkington Hall, and the Booth Tarkington Civic Theater in Indianapolis.

As a writer, Tarkington was both prolifi c and persistent. When he began losing his eyesight, he dictated to his secretary, and continued writing the rest of his life. Although he spent many of his later years at Seawood, his home in Kennebunkport, Maine, he maintained a home at 4270 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis from 1923 until his death. His long-term residency there, and the fact he is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, which lies on the southern boundary of the Butler-Tarkington area, make it very befi tting that a neighborhood park would be named in his honor.

“…in the matter of human character the people of such an

out-of-the-way midland village were as estimable as any others anywhere…This, in my sensitive

young fervor, was my emotional tribute to the land of my birth.”

EDWARD D. PIERRE(May 22, 1890-1971)

Edward D. Pierre, born May 22, 1890 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, briefl y attended Valparaiso University, then transferred to Illinois Institute of Technology (formerly Armour Institute), where he earned a degree in architecture in 1915. After working two years in Detroit, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War I, then moved to Indianapolis where he practiced until his retirement.

The principles Pierre championed are perhaps most accurately described by his own words written in the “All American Resolution,” a program he developed in response to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s challenge in 1960 to defi ne long-range goals for America. In this resolution, Pierre sought to “impress upon young people the progress that free men can make by intelligent planning;” to encourage “full participation by all Americans in an effort to erase slums and blight from the nation’s cities and country-side;” and to concentrate on “solving the big decisions which face every community, as well as those of the nation.” His personal efforts to meet these goals were apparent in the work he performed throughout his professional career as an architect, as well as in his civic involvement in public service activities. Throughout his life, he successfully integrated good design with good citizenship.

His architectural works include not only grand up-scale homes such as those in Meridian Kessler and Williams Creek Estates, but also small, affordable housing for lower-income families. During his partnership with George Wright (Pierre & Wright, 1925-1944), he designed several commercial and public buildings, including Indianapolis-area fi re stations, public schools, Bush Stadium, the Sears Roebuck building, the Old Trails Insurance building, and the elegant Indiana State Library and Historical Building. Many of the buildings Pierre & Wright designed are now landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The partnership was also responsible for initiating the now-traditional “Christmas on Monument Circle” – decorating the circle and monument with lights.

In 1944, the partnership with Wright was dissolved, and Pierre established his own fi rm, Pierre and Associates. From this time until his retirement, Pierre continued doing signifi cant architectural work in Indianapolis, which included the master plan for downtown development in 1953, and the Tarkington Park tennis shelter, built in 1957.

He has been described as “one of the most signifi cant and imaginative thinkers in regard to the beauty of Indianapolis” (by former mayor, Richard Lugar), and “the greatest architect the state of Indiana ever produced and probably the greatest visionary architectural professional Indiana has ever known” (by an executive director of the Indiana Society of Architects).

TARKINGTON PARK | Edward Pierre

TARKINGTON PARK | what we heard.....

The Design of Tarkington Park should incorporate these Major Themes....

• Have a Distinctive Sense of Place• Provide a unique urban park experience• Build upon and support ongoing efforts of Midtown• Celebrate Booth Tarkington & Edward Pierre• Be welcoming to all ages & user groups• Celebrate Diversity of the Community• Incorporate Public Art and Programs• Build Partnerships with the Farmers Market, the Church, MLK Center, Young Audiences, others• Inspire the creation of Friends of Tarkington Park• Green Infrastructure

TARKINGTON PARK | what we heard.....

• Innovative, Modern Playground• More Shelters & Picnic Space • Interesting Walking Paths & Circuits• Multi - Purpose Events Lawn• Performance Space • Water Features, Creative Splash Pads, Interactive Water Elements• Centralized Restroom Facilities • Urban Dog Park• Art Integration & Programs• Drinking Water• Year Round Facilities & Activities

• More Shaded Sitting Areas • More Trees & Attractive Landscape• Wi-fi Connectivity• Tennis Courts• Additional Basketball Courts• Lighting• Parking• Pedestrian Connectivity/Safe Access• Traffi c Calming• Traffi c Signal at 40th & Meridian Street• Views into the park

Design features of Tarkington Park should include....

CONCEPT ONE

Event Lawn

Tennis Courts

LawnCourt

UrbanDog Park

Playground

Basketball

SprayPlaza

Cafe &Stage

Shelter & Market

Reshaped Mound & Art

Traffi c Signal& Gateway

Gateway &Improved Crossing



40th Street

39th StreetOn-Street Parking & Market Space

North United Methodist Church(Shared Parking for Large Events)

MLK Community Center(Shared Parking for Large Events)

Mer

idia

n St

reet

Illin

ois

Stre

etO

n-St

reet

Par

king

w/B

ump

Out

s

LawnCourt

CONCEPT ONE | site plan

CONCEPT ONE| section

CONCEPT ONE | circulation diagram

CONCEPT ONE | shade

CONCEPT ONE | public art

LawnCourt

LawnCourt

TennisCourt

Half CourtBasketball

BasketballCourts

Pick-up Football, Soccer

and Frisbee

CONCEPT ONE | recreational sports

Innovative playground


Spray Plaza

CONCEPT ONE | play areas

Innovative playground



Spray Plaza

Water Wall

Climbing Wall

Climbing Wall

Urban Dog Park

Cafe & Stage Events Lawn &

Pick-up Games

Shaded Sitting Gardens

Basketball Courts

Rain Gardens and Sitting Gradens

Rain Gardens and Sitting Gradens

CONCEPT ONE | enlarged plan

Cafe & Stage

CONCEPT ONE | shelters & shade structures

CONCEPT ONE | cafe

CONCEPT ONE | cafe & stage

CONCEPT ONE | before

CONCEPT ONE| after

Spray Plaza

Shelters & Plaza

Basketball Courts Playground Dog Park

Events Lawn

Tennis Courts & Shelter

Public Art & Gateway

Opened Views

Stop Light & Gateway

Cafe & Stage

CONCEPT ONE| playground

CONCEPT TWO

Event Lawn

Tennis Courts

Picnic Area

Lawn PillowPlayground

Basketball

SprayPlaza

EventPavilion

Event Shade Structure & Plaza

Sloped Lawn





40th Street




Mer

idia

n St

reet

Illin

ois

Stre

etO

n-St

reet

Par

king

w/B

ump

Out

s

Picnic Area

Lawn

Shelter

Cafe & Restrooms

CONCEPT TWO| site plan

CONCEPT TWO| section

CONCEPT TWO| circulation diagram

CONCEPT TWO| shade

CONCEPT TWO | public art

TennisCourt

BasketballCourts

Pick-up Football, Soccer and Frisbee, etc.

CONCEPT TWO | recreational sports

Lawn Pillow Playground

Lawn

Spray Plaza

CONCEPT TWO | play areas

Lawn

Spray Plaza

Lawn

Tennis CourtsLawn PillowPlayground

Basketball Courts

Rain Gardens and Native Plantings

Rain Gardens and Native Plantings

CONCEPT TWO| enlarged plan

Sloped Lawn

Cafe

Shelter

Performance Pavillion

CONCEPT TWO | shelters & shade structures

CONCEPT TWO | cafe & restrooms

CONCEPT TWO | event pavilion option

CONCEPT TWO | before

Event Pavillon

Event Shade Structure

Lawn Pillow Playground

Event Lawn

Art

Spray Plaza

Basketball Courts

Tennis Courts

Cafe and Restrooms Shelter

CONCEPT TWO | after

CONCEPT TWO | looking from Meridian Street

Precedent Imagery| innovative play

Precedent Imagery| spray plaza

Precedent Imagery| outdoor ice rinks

Precedent Imagery| earth forms

Precedent Imagery| Park Pavilions / Shelters

Precedent Imagery| Dog Park

Precedent Imagery| public art integration

Precedent Imagery| native plantings & green design

Event Lawn

Tennis Courts

Picnic Area

Lawn PillowPlayground

Basketball

SprayPlaza

EventPavilion

Event Shade Structure & Plaza

Sloped Lawn





40th Street




Mer

idia

n St

reet

Illin

ois

Stre

etO

n-St

reet

Par

king

w/B

ump

Out

s

Picnic Area

Lawn

Shelter

Cafe & Restrooms

CONCEPT TWO

Event Lawn

Tennis Courts

LawnCourt

UrbanDog Park

Playground

Basketball

SprayPlaza

Cafe &Stage

Shelter & Market

Reshaped Mound & Art





40th Street




Mer

idia

n St

reet

Illin

ois

Stre

etO

n-St

reet

Par

king

w/B

ump

Out

s

LawnCourt

CONCEPT ONE

THANK YOU!a destination urban park with a distinctive sense of place that celebrates the community’s diverse history and culture, attracts a wide variety of users, and provides a distinctive park experience

Community Design Workshop | July 10 - 13, 2012



tarkington park conceptual master plans

Business

miles of tarkington

park neighbors

way730tarkington park

ta park

tarkington park49

north tower732734730

mlk community center

meridian street732