IPRA 2021 Awards of Excellence Winners,

continued from page 33 well as materials, equipment, guest artists, and content experts. It was crucial to our DEI initiatives to build an outreach program that educates these communities about nature and the environment and increases their exposure to local artists and art mediums. We also implemented this outreach programming into parks

In 2021, Indy Parks conducted an internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) assessment with our entire team and assigned scores to our parks based on race and income data from the previous census, allowing us to make more equitable investments. We identified a lack of access to arts and environmental education (EE) programming, particularly in parks serving communities of color and low-income residents. We allocated funds for an EE outreach coordinator and an arts outreach coordinator, as with facilities that provided primarily sports and recreation programming, expanding the scope of their offerings.

During the summer season, the EE and arts programming is also now more readily available for pool goers and day camp participants. By analyzing our programs and services through a DEI lens, and utilizing direct input from City Councilors, neighborhood groups, advisory councils, and stakeholders, we were able to better adjust our programming to fit the needs of our community as they evolved.

Eagle Creek Park West Side Trail Improvement Project, Indy Parks

Through grant funding from the Lilly Endowment, Eagle Creek Park is finally able to welcome the public to the west side of Eagle Creek reservoir with 10 new miles of trail though Eagle’s Crest Nature Preserve. This 297-acre preserve

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