Indianapolis, IN
Stanley Strader Park naming honors southeast side advocate who lifted his community
Bethel Park renamed after Stanley Strader, south side leader and advocate
The Indy Parks and Recreation board hears public comment in 2023, on renaming Bethel Park after Stanley Strader, a south side leader and advocate.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Stanley Strader was all about service.
He served in two branches of the U.S. military.
He had a career focused on serving youth, founding or advancing many community organizations.
He served as a city-county councilor, representing his southeast side community.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024, Indianapolis celebrated Strader’s life and contributions by officially naming a newly renovated park after him.
The Indy Parks and Recreation Board authorized the name change of the former Bethel Park last year to honor Strader, a former City-County councilor.
On Monday, Mayor Joe Hogsett presented a proclamation designating Jan. 15, 2024, as Stanley Strader Park Day in the city of Indianapolis.
Who was Stanley Strader?
A lifelong resident of the southeast side, Stanley P. Strader was born in 1939.
At 17, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After that, he served in the Air Force.
He studied urban affairs at Lane College and worked at Indianapolis Public Schools in the Human Resources Department, and at Camp Atterbury as the recreation program director.
In 1969, Strader began working with the Community Action Against Poverty and the United Southside Community Organization. He founded the nonprofit organization Watoto-Wa-Simba (The Young Lions) Inc. in 1971, initially with a youth advocacy focus, but going on to serve senior citizens as well.
He was elected to the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council in 1980, delivering city funding for improvements to Bethel Park, the restoration of the fountains in Fountain Square, and the Bean Creek drainage project.
He started after-school programs and raised money to take busloads of youths on field trips and to amusement parks out of state.
“Stan was a visionary,” said his brother, Kenneth Strader. “Job well done, big brother. I love you, man.”
What else is new at the former Bethel Park?
Citizens Energy Group and its more than 30 partners contributed about $300,000 in money and in-kind donations to make improvements to the park at 2850 Bethel Ave., including the family center and football field.
“We hope that our time spent painting, fixing, and upgrading facilities and equipment here at Stanley Strader Park means that staff, neighbors, and visitors alike will enjoy safer, cleaner, and more efficient and comfortable spaces for community events and recreation,” said Jeffrey Harrison, president and CEO of Citizens. “Parks across Indianapolis are the sites of such sweeping family and significant community conversations.”
The city and other entities also have contributed for a combined investment of more than $1 million, Hogsett said. The $796,000 football field renovation is scheduled to be completed this summer.
South side champion
Strader was all about bringing resources to the community.
“I can’t tell you how much love is still out on the southeast for the work that Stanley Strader has done,” Terry Gingles Sr. told the city parks and recreation board at the 2023 meeting in which the name change was approved. “What Stanley did was bring attention to the needs of the south side. Before Stanley we didn’t have a voice. But after Stanley stood up and started working in the community, things began to change.”
“And when he stood up to be an advocate for the people on the south side, he got support from about 40 Black men. I’m not talking about people who were well known. They were just everyday people. And it still serves as an inspiration to us all and to continue that work that he’s done.”
Donnetta Strader, who works in special education at Arsenal Tech High School, told the board Stanley Strader positively impacted her life even before he became her brother-in-law. He brought resources to the community that she and her children used, including sickle cell anemia testing at the clinic he helped to start and dances the children attended at the Bethel community center.
“I can’t begin to tell you how the roots that Stanley planted on the south side have influenced my family,” she said. “I even learned how to split my vote, and I’d been voting for years.”
Stanley Strader, who died in 2020, was the only Republican candidate elected to represent an inner-city district, the Indianapolis Recorder reported in 1987. His constituency was 70% Democrat.
“Stanley was love,” said Jesse Bingham, pastor at Our Hope Community Church, 835 St. Paul St. “On the south side we have a really rich history. We always ride for each other. We always supplied for each other. We’ve always been there to pick each other up. We were, and we are still, our own community. We don’t necessarily wait for outsiders to come to do a lot for us. But we take care and look after ourselves. And Stanley embodied all of this.”
“Stanley was just instrumental in the community with the clinic and the men’s assembly and also he helped a lot of people get jobs. When some other people weren’t hiring some of us, Stanley would step in and do what he does.”
Former councilor and parks committee chair William “Duke” Oliver was one of the forces behind the park-naming honor.
“The image of this person is one that many will point to and say that’s the kind of person we want our sons to grow up to be, “ he told the board.
In addition to Stanley Strader’s wife, Diana Strader, other presenters Monday included City-County Councilor Frank Mascari.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita was among those in the audience to help celebrate Strader on the King holiday.
“I thought even though my staff and I had been celebrating at different events last week and into the weekend, we had to do something on the day itself,” Rokita said. “I just want to come and have my own private celebration and remembrance of a great man who reached across all the aisles and included everybody. And I wanted to remember him in my own way. And this event allowed me to do it.”
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com: @cherylvjackson.
IndyCar race results from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
IndyCar Series drivers are on the grid in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is set to host a day of open wheel racing.
View Indianapolis race results for the IndyCar Series below.
Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward set the front row. 85 laps laps of stock car racing are up next…
Race Report
Green flag, Alex Palou is clear out of turn one. Pato O’Ward is turned! Scott Dixon and others are collected. The caution is out.
Penalty: Felix Rosenqvist will serve a drive thru penalty for contact in turn one.
Green, Palou leads Malukas and Kirkwood into turn one.
Lap 7, Kirkwood dives inside of Malukas into turn one. Kirkwood takes 2nd away.
Lap 21, Alexander Rossi is stalled and the caution is out. Multiple pit strategies are now in play.
Palou heads for the pit lane. Power is handed the lead as Palou restarts 19th.
Green, Power leads Malukas and Lundgaard. Felix Rosenqvist jumps over the top of Kyffin Simpson, caution.
Power pits from the lead with others. Malukas is handed the lead.
Green, Malukas leads Lunagaard into turn one.
Lap 48, Malukas and others head for the pit lane. Lundgaard pits the following lap. Malukas cycles out ahead. Malukas is saving fuel.
Lap 52, Power leads Malukas by 8 seconds.
Lap 63, Alex Palou pits for the final time from 5th.
20 to go, Lundgaard and many of the leaders dive for the pit lane. A lap later, Malukas heads for the pit lane.
Malukas cycles out ahead of Lundgaard. Lundgaard trails by 1.3 seconds.
18 to go, Lundgaard is all over the gearbox of the leader! Malukas blocks the inside into turn one. He misses a shift and Lundgaard pulls on the outside. They fight for space into turn four, Lundgaard to the lead!
8 to go, Lundgaard leads Malukas by 3 seconds. He’s driving away.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Race Results
May 9, 2026
IndyCar Series
Pos | Driver
1. Christian Lundgaard
2. David Malukas
3. Graham Rahal
4. Josef Newgarden
5. Alex Palou
6. Scott Dixon
7. Louis Foster
8. Dennis Hauger
9. Kyle Kirkwood
10. Nolan Siegel
11. Marcus Armstrong
12. Kyffin Simpson
13. Will Power
14. Santino Ferrucci
15. Rinus VeeKay
16. Scott McLaughlin
17. Sting Ray Robb
18. Pato O’Ward
19. Caio Collet
20. Mick Schumacher
21. Romain Grosjean
22. Marcus Ericsson
23. Felix Rosenqvist
24. Christian Rasmussen
25. Alexander Rossi
IndyCar Series
Point Standings
Pending
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Video Highlights
Pending
Links
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indycar
TODAY
Early clouds give way to gradual clearing, and the afternoon turns much nicer than the damp start might suggest. Highs reach the mid 70s, with a west-southwest breeze around 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Once we get past the morning gray, this looks like a very usable day for outdoor plans, just a bit breezy at times.
TONIGHT
Clouds increase again overnight, and scattered showers with a few thunderstorms may arrive late, mainly after 3 a.m. Lows settle in the mid 50s, with a light breeze becoming northerly late. Most of the evening stays quiet, but by early Sunday morning a few neighborhoods could hear some rain on the roof.
MOTHER’S DAY
Cooler than Saturday, with a mix of clouds and some breaks of sun along with the chance for an isolated shower. Highs top out in the mid 60s, and a north breeze around 5 to 10 mph adds a slightly cooler feel. It is not a washout, but it is also not as nice as Saturday afternoon, especially south of Indianapolis where a stray shower may hang on longer.
TOMORROW NIGHT
Partly cloudy and cooler, with lows in the mid 40s and a north northeast breeze around 5 to 10 mph. The air dries out nicely, and this looks like a quiet, comfortable night across central Indiana.
MONDAY
Bright and seasonably cool with sunshine taking over. Highs reach the mid 60s, with a light north wind around 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. This looks like one of the cleaner forecast days of the stretch, great for errands, practices, or getting outside without weather trouble.
MONDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear and chilly again, with lows in the low to mid 40s and light wind fading late. Quiet weather continues, and there are no meaningful travel concerns overnight.
TUESDAY
Another decent start, then clouds begin to increase later with a chance for showers and thunderstorms after mid afternoon. Highs reach the mid 60s, with a light south southwest breeze around 5 to 10 mph. Most of the day still looks usable, but the late afternoon and evening carry the next better rain signal.
TUESDAY NIGHT
Showers and thunderstorms become more likely for part of the night before activity starts to ease later on. Lows hold in the low to mid 50s, with a south-southwest wind around 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. It does not look like a high-end severe setup right now, but it is enough of a signal to keep an eye on late evening plans.
WEDNESDAY
A leftover shower is possible early, then the trend turns drier with more sun returning through the day. Highs recover into the upper 60s, and a northwest breeze around 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will make it feel a little brisker at times. The day improves as it goes, and by afternoon it should look much better than the early morning may suggest.
7 DAY FORECAST
After a milder Saturday and a small late Saturday night into Sunday shower window, the broader pattern settles down for Sunday night and Monday with quieter, cooler weather in place. The next more meaningful chance for rain arrives Tuesday into Tuesday night as another system approaches, then drier conditions return Wednesday as that system pulls away. Temperatures run in the 70s Saturday, slip back into the 60s Sunday through Tuesday, then edge a little milder again by midweek. Confidence is best in the quiet Sunday night through Monday stretch, while the exact timing of Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night rain could still wobble a bit.
Editor’s note: This interview is part of our ‘Meet the Candidates’ show. Watch past episodes here.
After working in education for about 15 years, Andrea Hunley won her first bid for political office four years ago in an Indiana Senate district covering the core of Indianapolis.
On May 8, Hunley, 42, officially launched her campaign for an office that she says feels closer to home: Indianapolis mayor.
About a year ahead of the May 2027 mayoral primary, Hunley sat down with IndyStar on May 5 to discuss what she hopes to accomplish as mayor, why her candidacy differs from her challengers, and how she thinks about hot-button issues like education, public safety and data centers.
At this point, Hunley will face longtime Indianapolis City-County Councilor Vop Osili and Department of Public Works administrator David Bride. Both candidates will also be invited for sit-down interviews with IndyStar in the coming weeks.
Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@indystar.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social.
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