INDIANAPOLIS — One of the most popular and busy areas in Indianapolis is getting a makeover.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works is pouring 6-million dollars into Broad Ripple, with the goal of making the area safer and more friendly to those on foot.
Some of the changes include bigger sidewalks, expanded storm water capacity to help control flooding, new curbs that are Americans with Disability Act compliant, better lighting, and more areas with “greenspace.”
That’s more areas with freshly planted trees, bushes, plants, community gardens, playgrounds, and much more.
John Gardner from Broad Ripple Vintage, a local business, is excited for the project as his store thrives off he said his store thrives off foot traffic.
“People see the store, they see it’s got a unique name and we got stuff outside and they’re like, ‘I want to go in there, I want to see something new and different,’” Gardner tells WISH-TV.
But he says the project is also a double-edge sword.
Gardner tells WISH-TV, “I think it might strain businesses around here with people not being able to park as much, people not being able to get to places as easily, but I think once it’s done, you’ll have more people coming to the area, more people living in the area, and I think that will increase business.”
Construction begins next year on Broad Ripple Avenue from North College to Primrose. The project also goes north and south on Guilford and Carrollton avenues and south on Winthrop Avenue.
