Latest News - 2012

INDIANAPOLIS – Inside Butler’s Facilities Department at 52nd Street and Boulevard Place, it’s as if Hinkle Fieldhouse had a baby. A 5-foot-wide-by-5-foot-high-by-10-foot-long plywood and red paint baby, complete with a hoop, a replica of the basketball court and miniature banners hanging above.

This mini fieldhouse, the work of Campus Engineer Rich Michal and members of the facilities staff, is one of 25 children’s playhouses built by various organizations as part of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis' benefit project called Play It Forward.

The playhouses will be on display at various locations around Indianapolis from June 1 through Aug. 31. People will have a chance to bid on them or, for the right price, buy them immediately. (More information about Play It Forward will be available on June 1 at PlayItForward.IndyHabitat.org.)

“The playhouse is not intended to be an exact replica, but we wanted to capture its essence,” Michal said. “If it goes for as much as we hope, to the right buyer, hopefully it will be inside someplace and last a long time while helping Habitat for Humanity further its mission in Indianapolis.”

Butler’s portion of this benefit project has been on the drawing board since February, when Michal met with Jim Morris, the CEO for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis. Michal was looking for some outreach opportunities for Butler staff, and Morris shared his vision for Play it Forward. (Habitat’s original specifications called for structures no bigger than 5x5x6, but Butler got a waiver to be able to replicate the rectangular fieldhouse.)

Soon, Michal was meeting with RATIO Architects, the company working on the fieldhouse renovations. RATIO provided a plan. Architecture intern Colin Moore took the conceptual design and drew up a set of plans. Southeastern Supply Co. donated lumber and materials. Connor Fine Painting supplied the paint. Fastsigns provided the signs and images that line the inside of the playhouse.

In mid-April, construction began. Vice President of Finance Bruce Arick allowed several of Butler’s craftsmen to devote work time to the project, including John Kunkle, Mike Goldsmith, Chris Renollet, Napoleon Watkins and Paul Thornton. Director of Maintenance Services Gerald Carlson, Charlie Truax, a supervisor in the Structures Department, Karen Quattrocchi, executive assistant for operations, Michal and Moore all donated time to work on the project after hours.

"It’s been a tight timeline,” Michal said, “but the guys have done a great job stepping up.”

Michal doesn’t know how much Hinkle Playhouse cost to build – a couple of thousand dollars in time and materials, at least – or for how much it will sell. But “it’s a chance to work on the representation of a structure we all feel strongly about and to have that pride and Butler spirit further displayed in the community.”

"We’re excited about it and really proud of what’s taken shape,” Michal said. “Hopefully, it will be the beginning of a long partnership with Habitat. We all feel strongly about their mission and what they do, and it’s an opportunity for us as staff to take a step toward what our faculty and students do so well – outreach to the community.”

About Butler University

Challenging and enabling students to meet their personal and professional goals has guided Butler University since 1855. Today, Butler is a nationally recognized comprehensive university that blends the liberal arts with first-rate pre-professional programs. It seeks to prepare each graduate not simply to make a living but to make a life of purpose, in which personal flourishing is intertwined with the welfare of others.  Butler is known for its vibrant campus, superior academics and dedicated faculty. The University enrolls more than 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students in six academic colleges: Business, Communication, Education, Fine Arts, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Located just six miles from downtown Indianapolis, Butler’s urban setting affords students internship opportunities that provide excellent graduate school and career preparation.

Experts Guide: To find the ideal expert for your story, visit our Experts Guide at http://www.butler.edu/experts/

Contact: Marc Allan

Office Phone (317) 940-9822

Cell Phone (317) 501-7999

Email mallan@butler.edu

Many residents in Meridian-Kessler have expressed concern about speeding, reckless driving, or frequent accidents at intersections.  They want to know what can be done to address some or all of these problems.  The idea of “traffic calming” is an infrastructure issue that we in MKNA need to hear from you about.  But first some information, and then we ask for your opinions.

Traffic Calming is the combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. 

The primary objective of traffic calming is to create safer roads and a better quality of life for the neighborhoods that we live in.  The strategic objectives are:

• to improve driver behavior, concentration, and awareness;
• to reduce speed;
• to reduce cut-through traffic;
• to improve safety for pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles;
• to enhance the quality of life and improve aesthetics

That said, it can be discussed regarding how to meet the above objectives on arterial streets such as College Ave, Central Ave, Washington Blvd, and Pennsylvania Ave and on local or local collector streets, in MKNA’s case, generally the east-west connector streets or cut-through streets like Guilford Ave in some locations.

Your feedback is needed (send emails to bookmanjerrey@yahoo.com) because before any neighborhood traffic calming devices can be installed, so tell us the options that seem best to each of you after reading more.  Ultimately 75% of the residents directly affected by the installation of the device should be in support of the action.  Since neighborhood associations exist, they too should support the request.  Once the above requirements are satisfied information meetings will be held to discuss alternative traffic calming methods.  Thereafter a plan is devised by a Traffic Advisory Committee including neighborhood representatives and City staff who together will also monitor the plan implementation.  This is per the City of Indianapolis “Neighborhood Traffic Calming” Recommended Practices.  As you can see, this starts at a very grass roots level with individual feedback.

So what are some of the traffic calming measures that can be used on either or both types of streets?  This is where we need your opinions and inputs now so that we can work to address resident desires with the City.  Some of the alternatives are:

• Stop Signs
• Turn Restrictions
• One-Way Streets
• Arterial Street Improvements / Signal Progression
• Speed Humps
• Rumble Strips or Change in Roadway Surface
• Pedestrian Refuge Islands
• Street Narrowing / Curb Extensions
• Curb Radius Reduction
• Chicanes (forced zig-zag of traffic lanes by barriers like low plantings)
• Street Closures
• Traffic Circles / Roundabouts
• Diverters

Not all the above methods are applicable to every street but these do constitute the “menu” of choices to be considered.   Keep in mind that the three principal elements in determining the need to implement traffic calming in a neighborhood are citizen support (the 75% “rule”), speed (85^th percentile is 35 MPH or greater), and traffic volumes demonstrating cut-through on local streets. 

The table below summarizes the use of traffic calming devices by objective.  Of course each has its pluses and minuses too.

This is a lot to digest in a short article so if you want more with sketches, please contact me.  By all means let us start a dialogue to find out your problem areas and to identify potential solutions for these within Meridian-Kessler.

Jerrey Finnegan, Chair of MKNA Infrastructure Committee

Helping Out is Simple!

Infrastructure Improvements for Residents of Meridian-Kessler

Indy Parks is seeking

• Energetic and dependable individuals
• Outgoing personality with ability to communicate and interact with children, parents, co-workers and supervisors
• Excellent customer service skills

Applicants must be at least 16-years old. Available seasonal positions include Pool Managers, Head lifeguards, lifeguards, cashiers, head camp counselors, and counselors. Schedules and pay vary by position. Indy Parks will provide lifeguard training. 

Visit www.indy.gov/jobs to apply. 

Aquatics - 317-327-1470
Camps - 317-327-7419 

New educational technology at The Indianapolis Public Library will help young children become successful learners thanks to grants from The Library Fund, a fund of The Indianapolis Foundation.

In support of the Library’s privately-funded Ready to Read initiative, AWE early learning computers along with associated furnishings are being installed this year at all 23 Indianapolis Public Library locations. The computer stations feature up to 50 educational software programs in seven curricular areas that provide a self-directed experience and help children discover how to learn. Five libraries will receive bilingual AWE computers along with their English versions.

“The new AWE Early Learning Stations are an exciting addition to the Library system,” stated Abby Brown, the Library’s Early Learning Specialist. “These systems are unique in that they allow for child-directed learning, but also encourage parent participation. They provide a fun and interactive way for young children to pick up some of the skills that are essential for success in kindergarten.”

The AWE computers are made possible from separate grants totaling over $110,000 from The Library Fund to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. Another Library Fund grant of $100,000 will be used to add over 5,800 eBook titles to the Library’s downloadable collection to meet increased patron demand. There are currently over 35,000 Library eBooks available for free downloading. In 2011, patrons downloaded over 122,000 free Library eBooks, compared to just over 23,000 in 2010.

Additional grants from The Library Fund will help underwrite the Library’s Live Homework Help online service for students, legal materials at Central Library, selected books in the Young Hoosier Book Award program, updates to the Library’s storytelling collection, technology for the Media Lab in the Learning Curve for children and teens at Central Library, digitization of Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce newsletters and preservation of three Central Library historic photographs.

The nine Library Fund grants to The Indianapolis Public Library total over $364,000.

To learn more about these and other Library initiatives, visit www.imcpl.org.

 

The Regional Bikeways Plan was adopted by the Indianapolis Regional Transportation Council at their February 22nd meeting. The Plan is designed to provide an outlook on the feasible development of our bikeways system by analyzing our expected funding sources, providing cost estimates, setting priorities and establishing recommendations for investment. You can find the plan on the multimodal page of the MPO's website.

In the Plan's first five chapters are an introduction, the goals and vision, public input, existing cycling conditions and future recommendations. The remaining chapters provide many of the details behind those recommendations such as priority setting, financial constraints and project scoring.

At its heart, the bikeways plan is designed to foster coordination among the separate bikeways programs within each town, city and county in the region, which will lead to a functional, convenient and connected system of bikeways for all cyclists. 

Board of Directors Meeting – March 8, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
526 East 52nd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana

Meeting Agenda

1. President's call to order
2. Introductions and Guest Comments
   1. Guests: Mayor's Neighborhood Liaison
   2. IMPD representative
   3. Diana Vanarsdall, 911
3. Consent Agenda
   1. Approval of Minutes of February 9, 2012 MKNA Board Meeting
   2. Approval of Executive Director, Committee & Zone Delegate Reports
4. Committee Reports & Action Items
   1. Land Use Committee Report – Discussion of Land Use Committee's recommendation concerning 3802 College Ave. (petition # 2011-zon-035), waiver of one-year waiting period to file renewed petition to rezone property
   2. Treasurer's Report – Discussion of 2012 budget (Susie Hacker)
   3. Education Committee – Discussion of questions for panelists at All-Neighborhood Meeting (Tony Artis)
5. New Business
   1. Discussion of free home energy audits underwritten by IPL and Duke Energy (Judy Goldstein & Caroline Farrar)
   2. Discussion and potential vote on proposal from Marketing Committee regarding membership database (Alex Jimenez)
   3. Discussion of nominations of Margaret Sheehan (Zone 2) and Robin Anderson (Zone 6) to MKNA Board (Judy Goldstein)
6. Adjournment

Highland Golf & Country Club is looking for friendly, personable, and outgoing individuals to be a part of our Outside Service Staff team! Highland is an established, high-end country club with an active golf program that stays busy from late March through October. The club is located in the heart of the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood and no more than 15 minutes from the northside or downtown Indianapolis!

The candidate will work outside and will be interact directly with all aspects of the membership on a daily basis (men, women & children). Interested individuals MUST possess an outgoing & friendly personality with a “service-oriented” and positive attitude! Duties can include managing other service staff, handling member’s clubs/equipment, managing golf cart fleet, & managing practice facilities including range ball inventory.

Benefits include flexible work schedule, a fun and exciting work environment, discounts on merchandise and the opportunity to learn to play golf! For more information call the Golf Shop at 253-3030 or come in and fill out an application. This job is a lot of fun! Work with a great staff and a great membership, establish contacts in the local community, and be a part of a high-end upbeat work environment!

After years of planning and preparation, Super Bowl XLVI is just around the corner. Indianapolis is no stranger to holding large events.  Like our major conventions and the Indianapolis 500 every year, residents, employers, and downtown employees have a role to play in making this experience enjoyable for thousands of visitors.  

With the number of changes to the normal street patterns, your usual direct route into the heart of downtown may not be the best choice during the Super Bowl period. Following the traffic and parking recommendations of the Super Bowl Host Committee as presented in the Know Before You Go web portal is one of the most important steps we can take during the days leading up to SBXLVI. It includes road restrictions, recommended travel routes, downloadable maps, event parking in support of the NFL Experience & Super Bowl Village, and Park & Ride options.  It will also include real-time updates accessible directly on the site or by signing up for e-alerts.  Know Before You Go will assist downtown workers, local residents and out-of-town visitors with the information necessary to best navigate downtown for work and various Super Bowl events. Visit http://www.indianapolissuperbowl.com/general-information/

Street Restrictions: Starting January 19, various street segments will be closed to all non-emergency vehicles on Capitol Avenue, Illinois Street, Meridian Street, Pennsylvania Street, Georgia Street, South Street, Missouri Street, Merrill Street, and Russell Avenue.  The south half of Monument Circle will also be restricted on key days. Find a complete list here.

Recommended Routes to Navigate Downtown: To expedite traffic flow, two special routes have been recommended to help motorists easily move around the edges of downtown to avoid the streets that are closed.  One route is labeled “Super” and the other “Bowl.”  You can enter or exit the routes at any point.  Both routes allow motorists to cross over to parking destinations on local streets that are not restricted.  Signage will be posted along the routes to help direct motorists.

The orange-highlighted “Super Route” runs counter-clockwise from McCarty Street on the south to Delaware Street on the east and from Michigan Street on the north to West Street on the west. 

The blue-highlighted “Bowl Route” runs clockwise from McCarty Street on the south to Missouri/West Street on the west and from New York Street on the north to East Street on the east, traveling west on South Street and south on Madison Avenue back to McCarty Street.

Best Routes into Downtown Indianapolis: The major interstates and routes into downtown Indianapolis will be open to traffic during the Super Bowl period.   One interchange will be closed on Game Day, February 5: I-70 Exit 79A West Street (westbound and eastbound).

Parking Downtown: All Downtown parking garages will be open for business during the Super Bowl period except the Moon Garage entrance on Georgia Street from January 27-February 5.  Parking for City employees should not be affected.

Event parking will be available for all Super Bowl activities, with an interactive map available online.

Three Park and Ride locations will offer a convenient, low-cost parking option and a shuttle ride to the drop-off site on West Washington Street just south of the Government Center from January 27 – Feb. 4.   For advanced reservations, the cost is $2.00 per person. Children under age 2 are free.  Without a reservation, the cost if $10 per car (cash only).  To guarantee availability, spaces must be reserved in advance at https://sbxlvi.clickandpark.com/parkandride

Park and Ride locations are the 327 N. Illinois Garage, the former Airport Long Term Parking lots at 2155 S. High School Road, and the Market District Garage and adjacent Surface Lot at 101 N. New Jersey Street.

On Game Day, February 5, the NFL has secured multiple parking garages and lots for ticketholders attending Super Bowl XLVI.  A Web site https://sbxlvi.clickandpark.com/ is available to find participating locations and purchase a reserved space.

Alternatives to Driving Downtown: Other options are available to residents and visitors to let someone else do the driving, including IndyGo public transportation offering normal fixed routes, Airport Express (the Green line), and Paratransit services throughout Indianapolis.  To encourage visitors and residents to use other travel options, IndyGo will offer free rides on their fixed route and paratransit services from Thursday, February 2^nd through Sunday, February 5^th.  Modifications have been made to some downtown bus stops, which can be found by visitingwww.IndyGo.net.  Licensed taxi service will be operational during Super Bowl week, and additional cab stands have been added downtown.    

January 12, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
526 East 52^nd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana
Meeting Agenda

I. President's call to order

II. Introductions and Guest Comments

Guests:  Mark Warner, Mayor's Liaison

                  IMPD representative

                  Diana Vanarsdall, 911

                  Matt Impink – Stand for Children

                  Pat Payne – African-American Studies (IPS)

III. Consent Agenda

Approval of Minutes of November 10, 2011 MKNA Board Meeting

Approval of Executive Director, Committee & Zone Delegate Reports                                                        

IV. Committee Reports & Action Items

Grants (Meghan Martin) – Report on Twilight Tour grant money

Treasuer's Report (Matt Albaugh as proxy) – Circulation of financials and requests to all Board members to submit budget for anticipated program expenses/revenues by January 31, 2012

License Review Committee – Discussion of 3-way liquor license for Room Four restaurant (Mary Owens)

V. New Business

Discussion of neighborhood's support/recommendation to IPS that Broad Ripple High School adopt the inquiry-based International Baccalaureate curriculum, with CFI/School 84 serving as one of several feeder schools (Meghan Martin/Mary Owens)

Discussion of Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association transit resolution and consideration of MKNA's similar letter of support & request for volunteer to lead MKNA's monitoring of transit issues affecting MKNA (Nick Colby)

Discussion of date of next All-Neighborhood Meeting (Molly Seidel)

Nomination and vote of Sheryl Factor for Zone 2 Delegate (Judy Goldstein)

Vote to accept resignation of Jennifer Briggs, Fund Development Chair (Judy Goldstein)

VI. Adjournment

This is a reminder that there will be NO SOLID WASTE SERVICES on Monday, January 16, 2012, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. day. All Solid Waste services will run one day behind for the entire week as a result. This includes residential trash collection, heavy trash collection, and curbside recycling services. Monday routes will be serviced on Tuesday, January 17; Tuesday routes will be serviced on Wednesday, January 18, and so on, with Friday routes being serviced on Saturday, January 21. All routes will return to normal schedules on Monday January 22.