Indianapolis, IN
Part of Monument Circle closes down as Spark returns
INDIANAPOLIS — Spark on the Circle has returned and closed closing down a quarter of Monument Circle to traffic for the second straight year.
Last year, Spark shut down the southwest quadrant of Monument Circle. This year’s version is on the northwest quadrant.
Organizer Jim Walker, executive director of Big Car Collaborative, “Each time, we’re learning something and we’re getting numbers and data and observations that say, ‘Well, here’s what might work.’”
Last year, Spark saw 78,000 people use the pop-up park in five months. Organizers anticipate more people this year because it’ll be open for an additional month.
A welcome truck will greet people with friendly faces.
“It’s about making a space that’s really comfortable and welcoming neighborly, inclusive,” Walker said.
One person who works on the Circle likes the park but doesn’t like the disruption to traffic. Phil Isenbarger said, “I’d like to see traffic go all the way around the Circle, but, as long as it’s temporary thing, I think that makes more sense.”
Would Isenbarger be oppose to a permanent Spark on the Circle? “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to close off the Circle,” he said.
The city’s ultimate goal is to close down at least part of the Circle and make the park permanent.
Iris Dillon, Indianapolis administrator of programing and public use, said, “We are working toward figuring it out because, of course, with the city, everything takes funding, and so the conversations are happening.”
Part of those conversations center around where a permanent park will go and how much of the Circle will close down. This year’s test will be to see if the park will make the northwest quadrant more viable for businesses.
Walker said, “It’s not being utilized very well, so one of the things that this kind of thing can do is bring energy to a space that could use a little more energy.”
Whatever the outcome of the park, it’s not the city’s mission to just force a version of Spark on the Circle that people don’t want.
“We’re all really here to adjust and adapt to what they think and not to just, like, ‘Well, too bad,’” Walker said.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.
29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.
Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.
Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.
Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.
In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.
Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.
Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.
Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.
Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.
Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.
Marion County
For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.
Those Cooling Centers are:
- Broad Ripple Park Family Center
- Brookside Park Family Center
- Christian Park Family Center
- Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
- Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
- Krannert Park Family Center
- Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
- Pride Park Family Center
- Rhodius Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Stanley Strader Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center
- Windsor Park Family Center
- Watkins Park Family Center
- Thatcher Park Family Center
For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.
Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:
- Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers
For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.
Marion
- St. Martin Community Center
- Grant County Family YMCA
- Grant County Rescue Mission
Kokomo
- The Kokomo Rescue Mission
- The Excel Center in Kokomo
Peru
- Community Resource Center
- Miami County Courthouse
- Miami County Health Department
- Miami County YMCA
- Peru City Hall
- Peru Public Library
- Peru Schools Administration Building
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.
WRTV
A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.
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