Hit the Beach

Geist Waterfront Park Celebrates Grand Opening Of Phase One

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.

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.

“The beach is really impressive because it includes 800 feet of 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.

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.

“This quickly started the discussions of how and where we could make the reservoir an amenity for everyone to utilize and enjoy,”

Reardon McSoley says. “In 2018 we were able to purchase the land, and here we are now in 2023, opening Phase One.”

He says Fishers is lucky to have Geist Reservoir on the east side and the White River on the west side of the community. He says Fishers has a large amount of aquatic access with Geist Waterfront Park, making access easier for residents and nonresidents. Admission is free for Fishers residents, and a fee structure for nonresidents will roll out later this spring.

“At some point later this spring there will be a smart pass, where Fishers residents can register and have a digital passport to the park,” Reardon McSoley says. “There will be a major communications campaign when that begins.”

The entryway to the park is considered a significant wow factor when guests arrive. Reardon McSoley says much of the masonry needs for Phase One were sourced directly from the site. He says those involved with the project were pleasantly surprised to find so many large, natural rocks and three freshwater springs in the area.

Beach season begins May 27 and runs through September 4, with the beach open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The cove will be fully staffed with seven to eight American Red Cross-certified lifeguards during open hours. Reardon McSoley says the lifeguards will go through extensive open-water training before opening. The city has hired the first full-time aquatics manager. Paula Hardin joined the team in February and previously served as the senior aquatic director for the Fishers YMCA.

Reardon McSoley says with each passing week, the excitement for the grand opening of Phase One continues to grow. He says the park has many items Fishers residents know and love in terms of amenities like play structures, but the most exciting and unique part of the park is the shoreline itself.

“We’re really excited to build upon the area for generations to come,” he says. “I think there is a perception that Geist Reservoir is only for the people who live on it or those who have a boat. We really want to change that perception and welcome everyone to enjoy and engage in the reservoir.”

There is no specific timeline for the opening of Phase Two and

Phase Three, but Reardon McSoley says the project leaders have an anticipated completion date of 2040. Additional amenities will include more extensive trails, reservoir walking areas, a fishing pier, more natural playground areas and additions to the parking lot.

“We have been getting a lot of excitement from community members about Geist Waterfront Park,” Reardon McSoley says. “In fact, last November we held a sneakpeek event. Even though the weather was less than ideal, being 35 degrees with 30-mile-per-hour winds, we still had over 400 residents come out to have fun and explore the park.”

The park is an excellent way for everyone to get out and enjoy nature while taking in the beauty of Geist Reservoir during the upcoming spring and summer, this year and for years to come. For more information, go to playfishers.com/219/ geist-waterfront-park.

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Fishers Kicking Off Disability Awareness Month With Series Of Events

The Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability (FACD) is celebrating National Disability Awareness Month beginning March 1. This year’s theme, “Building Our Future Together,” focuses on inclusion and acceptance for all Fishers and Hamilton County residents.

The celebration begins with 2023 Disability Awareness Month Kickoff & Awards: Building Our Future Together, on March

1 at Launch Fishers Huston Theater. Kelly Hartman, FACD co-chair, is the keynote speaker. Hartman is a Fishers resident, president and chief executive officer of Insights Consulting, Inc., and co-founder and board member of Outside the Box.

“I’ll be speaking about the history of the disability inclusion movement nationally and locally,” Hartman says. “I’ll also discuss what we need to do from a national perspective, and then dial down to Fishers and what we can do here to change the future for people in our community. We will also be giving out awards to those in our community who have done outstanding work in the area of disabilities.”

OneZone is hosting the March Disability Awareness Breakfast: Finding Your Next Great Hire, at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel on March 2. Hartman will serve as emcee for the event, hosting a panel of community members discussing disability myths, available resources for businesses, how to create an inclusive work environment, and hiring employees with disabilities.

“It’s an opportunity for us to recognize people with amazing skills in our community looking for jobs who are sometimes overlooked because they have intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities,” Hartman says. “There is a perception employers see hiring somebody with a disability as a charity case. We want to show that hiring people with disabilities does many great things for your work culture. Businesses should hire these people because they’re amazing employees and can be an amazing part of your team.”

The Fishers Arts Council is hosting the Second Friday Gallery Reception on March 10 at the Collaboration Hub at the Hamilton County Community Foundation. Local comic book creator Jason Funk will be on hand to share his work.

“Jason is a local high school student on the autism spectrum,” says Cecilia Coble, FACD co-chair and Fishers city councilor at-large. “He has found his talent and has been going to different schools inspiring students to follow their dreams.”

Hartman says many people think Disability Awareness Month is only for people with disabilities, but really it’s for everyone in the community. She says these events bring awareness to issues residents might not know or understand.

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Our philosophy is to inspire hope and nurture the well-being of the whole person, focusing on physical and social needs to deliver the highest quality therapy services to our families. TOTS Physical, Occupational, and speech therapists provided one-on-one therapy and custom-designed home programs to enable your child to improve functional independence and gain those skills needed to live life confidently.

Play. Move. Laugh.

Our philosophy is to inspire hope and nurture the well-being of the whole person, focusing on physical and social needs to deliver the highest quality therapy services to our families. TOTS Physical, Occupational, and speech therapists provided one-on-one therapy and custom-designed home programs to enable your child to improve functional independence and gain those skills needed to live life confidently.

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Play. Move. Laugh.

Our philosophy is to inspire hope and nurture the well-being of the whole person, focusing on physical and social needs to deliver the highest quality therapy services to our families. TOTS Physical, Occupational, and speech therapists provided one-onone therapy and custom-designed home programs to enable your child to improve functional independence and gain those skills needed to live life confidently.

Our philosophy is to inspire hope and nurture the well-being of the whole person, focusing on physical and social needs to deliver the highest quality therapy services to our families. TOTS Physical, Occupational, and speech therapists provided one-on-one therapy and custom-designed home programs to enable your child to improve functional independence and gain those skills needed to live life confidently.

Our philosophy is to inspire hope and nurture the well-being of the whole person, focusing on physical and social needs to deliver the highest quality therapy services to our families. TOTS Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapists provide one-on-one therapy and custom-designed home programs to enable your child to improve functional independence and gain those skills needed to live life confidently.

“Fishers is a very forward-thinking community,” Hartman says. “If you don’t know someone affected by a disability, you may not feel these events are for you. These events are a great way to empower those with disabilities and encourage others to become allies for those with disabilities.”

Allies can pick up an ally toolkit at the kickoff event March 1, or at Fishers City Services beginning March 2. The kit includes a T-shirt, yard sign, stickers, and other items to highlight, educate and further the discussion on disability awareness.

For a complete list of events and more information, visit fishers.in.us/999/ march-disability-awareness.