Midtown Indianapolis, Inc. has received a grant totaling $200,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

The grant provides the resources needed to complete the Phase I vision for Tarkington Park, specifically the performance stage, and will also help establish a comprehensive program plan for park users. This generous grant comes as construction wraps up on other Phase I elements including a destination play area and half-court basketball courts, which are now open. A water plaza and a privately operated café are expected to open in Spring 2017.

 “Our community has worked tirelessly to make Tarkington Park a destination community asset and the grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is a clear recognition and celebration of the collaborative efforts to date,” said Michael McKillip, Executive Director of Midtown Indianapolis, Inc.

It was just a year ago that area residents, city leaders, and community partners joined together to help raise over $600,000 to restore the central café. The grant funds will help restore the last remaining component of the Phase I plan, the performance stage, which was previously cut due to budget constraints. The performance stage will be a place for community and neighborhood events and will provide a venue for future arts and cultural programming options for the park. A portion of the grant funds will be used in conjunction with funds committed by the Indianapolis Parks Foundation to create a comprehensive programming, operations, and maintenance plan for the park.

With funding in place, Midtown Indianapolis, Inc. is working with the Indianapolis Parks Foundation to secure bids to construct the stage, targeting a Summer 2017 debut.  Program planning efforts are expected to begin as early as January 2017.

“During her career, Nina Mason Pulliam shared her financial success and business leadership skills with many charities.  She had a keen awareness of challenges that face our community and would take great pride in the outstanding work being done by organizations like Midtown Indianapolis, Inc.,” said Kent Agness, Trustee.  “Through her Trust, we continue to build on her legacy, which clearly reflects her heart for philanthropy.”

The grant to Midtown Indianapolis, Inc. represents one of 28 awarded to nonprofit organizations in Indiana by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust during the second of two grant cycles this year. Since the Trust began its grant making in 1998, it has awarded more than $268 million to 949 nonprofit organizations in its home states of Indiana and Arizona.  For more information about the Trust and its programs visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org.

Share This