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Colts Canal Playspace

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana

Owner

Indianapolis Parks Foundation

Team

Kimley Horn; Loftus Engineering

Articles

The Colts are going to pay for the city’s first Downtown playground

Colts Canal Playspace is now open

Colts Canal Playscape (DRONE FOOTAGE)

Colts Canal Playspace | Downtown Indy Parks Playground

Indianapolis opens its first playground downtown, and it’s on the canal

Project Description

The Indianapolis Parks Foundation engaged the Hitchcock Design Group team to create an innovative, engaging and versatile Play Space in downtown Indianapolis. As the Play Space will be located in the visual foreground of the Indianapolis Skyline and along the canal walk, views of the space are as important as the user’s experience of the space. This location also allows the Play Space to be a natural contributor to the canal’s cultural aesthetic with its interpretive forms that give subtle hints to its representation, while receiving material cues from its surroundings. Primary play-attraction lies in the Play Space’s three major interactive events; the group “party-spinner”, the embankment “slide-race”, and the flowing “splash-climber” system, which traverses the fourteen-foot slope between the Cultural Trail and the canal. The Play Space will also boast the first custom net climber in the Midwest and become the first outdoor play environment in downtown Indianapolis.

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“Their work comes with a level of empathy with the user to say ‘it’s more than plants. How can this be an uplifting space? How can this invigorate someone?’ That’s different. That’s unique.”

Cee Cee Hodgson

Lead Architect–C.C. Hodgson Architectural Group

“Hitchcock thinks beyond straight lines and 90-degree angles.”

Jim Basala

COO, Lake County Parks & Recreation Dept.

“With Hitchcock, I felt like they really went above and beyond, and they’re extremely responsive. They take more of a leadership role, which is helpful, especially with a complicated project.”

Mike DeRouin

President, FitzGerald Associates

“Hitchcock goes out of their way to make sure they’re responsive, helpful, and doing things that aren’t necessarily their responsibility. They’re just all-around quality. Any project that I do going forward they will always, always be included in my RFP, whether it’s city or suburban.”

Jonathan Kubow

Development Manager, Lennar Multifamily Communities

“They’ve earned our trust. They listen to us and come back with solutions that really meet our needs. They let you start to dream …”

Doug Sampson

University Architect/Director-Missouri State University

“Communication, creativity, meeting timeliness, meeting institutional expectations; we’re not an easy client. Hitchcock goes out of their way to work with us.”

Ann Ziegelmaier

Landscape Architect-Northwestern University

“One of Hitchcock’s strengths is the amount of work they put in when they’re getting to know a community. They show you they really understand the issues your community is considering. They’re very thorough in their approach. It’s clear they’ve done their homework.”

Craig Phillips

Director, Planning & Redevelopment, Michigan City

“They work in a very collaborative manner in discussions and presentations. They make sure you fully understand it. If there are any questions at all, they can help you with it.”

Patrick Lyons

Director of Construction-Advocate Healthcare

“Some architects will just say ‘how dare you!’ but Hitchcock encourages changes. Relationships and creativity is what it boils down to—it’s why I like them the best and what sets them apart from others.”

Steve Gulden

Village Manager, Village of Romeoville

“What keeps coming back to me is their willingness, their ability, and their responsiveness to help manage the situation at hand.”

Tim Brennan

Senior Associate/Retail Practice Area Leader, Gensler