Neighbors and Students Roll Up Their Sleeves and Get to Work

Last Saturday morning was crisp and sunny, a perfect day for manual labor and getting your hands dirty.  University Heights neighbors and KIB employees showed up a little early to enjoy coffee and doughnuts provided by UIndy's David Wantz.  Right on time, a hoard of UIndy students came marching down Matthews Ave. to assist neighbors and KIB in spreading mulch, picking up trash, building planting boxes, and planting trees.  Saturday was phase one of an ambitious transformation of the the old Cummins Student Apartment lot.

The barren lot on the corner of Matthews and Edwards needed a little TLC before the soon to be pocket park will be planted with plenty of native trees, shrubs, and flowers.  The park will also provide community members with  walking paths and a shelter house for community gatherings.  This project has been years in the making.  The University Heights Neighborhood Association applied and was awarded a grant from KIB.  In addition, the University of Indianapolis has also pledged assistance in the building of a shelter house and additional infrastructure.  Neighbors feel the park will be a place to relax and socialize in addition to being a model to what community organizing and community engagement can accomplish.  See more photos at https://plus.google.com/+UheightsUs/photos