Situated at the “crossroads of the crossroads” at the junction of I-65/I-70 and 13th/Delaware streets, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site was the home of Indiana’s only president from 1874/1875 until 1901. Now a museum, the Presidential Site is in the midst of a $6 million “Old Glory, New Vision” campaign.
One portion of this campaign is the Neighborway, a gateway project that provides east/west pedestrian and bicyclist connectivity that was lost through interstate construction 50 years ago. The timing of the campaign aligned well with the North Split’s environmental study and subsequent construction. INDOT and the project’s Consulting Parties identified the Neighborway as an opportunity to address the adverse effect construction would have on historic properties. INDOT included the Neighborway in its Memorandum of Agreement, dedicating $190,000 toward its construction.
“We were excited to partner with INDOT to restore east/west access between Delaware Street and Pennsylvania across the north side of I-65/70 with this 8-foot-wide pedestrian and bicycle-friendly pathway,” said Charles A. Hyde, President and CEO of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. “It was a unique opportunity to beautify one of the most highly visible exit ramps in downtown Indianapolis with its direct access to Pennsylvania, Meridian, Illinois and Capitol streets.”
The Presidential Site, located in the Old Northside Historic District, welcomes more than 30,000 annual visitors each year. The Neighborway features native and drought-tolerant plantings, beautiful brick, and custom period lighting.
“This is important for quality of life of the many residents of the Old Northside and adjacent neighborhoods and will most directly serve our immediate neighbors in apartments and affordable housing,” said Hyde. “The Neighborway helps Indy continue to up its game as a world-class city through neighborhood access and infrastructure investment,” he said.
The Grand Inaugural Celebration of the Neighborway will take place on May 18. In the meantime, the public can experience the “soft opening” phase by enjoying the new interconnectivity with the city. Learn more about plans for the Presidential Site in 2023 at PresidentBenjaminHarrison.org and OldGloryNewVision.org.