SPONSORED CONTENT
WORDS BY LINDA BROADFOOT, INDY PARKS DIRECTOR
Indy Parks Debuts New Amphitheater With decades of dreaming and years of planning, a major transformation is in the works at Riverside Park, and we’re excited to finally welcome you inside. This month, we’ll open the gates at Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre. We have envisioned it as a place where community members can come together to experience live performances in their neighborhood. It will be the new home of Indy Shakes, our city’s only professional “Shakespeare in the Park” company. They’ll take the stage for six performances this summer, beginning July 22. The amphitheater’s inaugural concert season kicks off August 5. Over the following two months, fans can enjoy nearly a dozen live shows and movie screenings in the venue. The amphitheater is anchored to a memorial, built in 1931 to honor former Indianapolis mayor, Thomas Taggart. In the past several years, the memorial’s historic limestone arches have started to deteriorate with age. We knew that in order to create something special in this park, we had to bring the memorial back to its former glory. Renovating the memorial and creating the amphitheater was a
huge undertaking that would not have been possible without the help of a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. In 2018, the Parks Alliance of Indianapolis led the charge in applying for a grant through Lilly Endowment’s initiative, Strengthening Indianapolis Through Arts and Cultural Innovation. We collaborated with Indy Shakes and Indiana Landmarks in applying for the grant. As part of the grant proposal process, we had to prove that this project would improve this community’s quality of life and benefit all those who live, work and play in Indianapolis. We’re continuing to work alongside the Riverside community and partners to create a new future to the park. One that brings out the love of arts, music, and culture that west side neighbors are known for. The Riverside Regional Park Master Plan is full of plans that will make the park more accessible and enjoyable for all community members. I hope to see you out enjoying the opening season at Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre and all the changes to come at Riverside Park!
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August 2021 I INDYSCHILD.COM
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