Jake Reardon-McSoley, Paula Hardin and Marissa Deckert
Hit the Beach GEIST WATERFRONT PARK CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF PHASE ONE
Writer / Renee Larr Photographer / Amy Payne
It’s safe to say that after a long winter of cold, gray weather, most Fishers residents are ready for spring and all the outdoor activities it brings. The grand opening of Phase One of Geist Waterfront Park is slated for March 18, near the first day of spring on March 20. The 70acre waterfront property is located at 10811 Olio Road, near 111th Street and the east side of Olio Road.
shoreline,” says Jake Reardon McSoley, director of recreation and wellness. “A lot of work has been put into making the beach a highquality amenity for the community. We also did quite a bit of work to the water.” That work includes dredging, draining and damning the cove, bringing in 12,000 tons of fine, fresh sand, using it to build up the beach, and adding six large aerators, which will keep the water fresh year-round.
Phase One includes a sand beach, a giant pirate playground, a sand and water toddler play structure, a kayak, a paddleboard and canoe launch area, trails, three small shelters, one large shelter, restrooms, and a concession stand for guests to purchase cool treats and drinks. Guests can rent non-motorized watercraft or bring their own.
Geist Waterfront Park is the only public access area to Geist Reservoir. While it’s a beautiful amenity to some Fishers residents, city officials realized the reservoir was not accessible for most residents in the city and surrounding communities.
“The beach is really impressive because it includes 800 feet of
“This quickly started the discussions of how and where we could make the reservoir an amenity for everyone to utilize and enjoy,”
26 / GEIST MAGAZINE / MARCH 2023 / TownePost.com