Several issues ago, the Gazette told you about the now defunct plans for the beautification and development of the Broad Ripple canal, a multi-million proposal that would have breathed new life into the heart of the village. As a reminder, plans for this revitalization effort, which were developed through years of hard work and dedication from the Broad Ripple Village Association and other outside organizations, were unceremoniously scrapped after "reliable" funding mechanisms fell through.

In this issue, we'd like to give you a taste of what the canal might have looked like, what Broad Ripple could and should have been had the fruits of the BRVA's labors been realized. We at the Gazette feel it is our duty to share with you what the canal may have looked like in hopes that you, the reader, will join with the many others who want their community to reach its fullest potential.

As we mentioned last time, revitalization efforts were well underway before money ran out and interests of community leaders were led astray. That is not to say, however, that no part of the plan ever came to fruition.

Perhaps the greatest success of the redevelopment effort to date was the demolition in 1999 of a structurally deficient parking deck. Constructed in 1958, the deck was an aesthetic nightmare, robbing Broad Ripple residents of the natural beauty of the canal. While 110 parking spaces were lost with the destruction of the deck, the added space allowed for the recreational use of the corridor and would have paved the way for other enhancement proposals.

Another visible improvement was the erection of the aluminum pedestrian bridge at Westfield and College Aves. Funded through a Lilly Enhancement Grant in 2000, the bridge has helped enhance the flow of traffic and increased safety for pedestrians at that intersection. According to the document that summarizes the project, the western end of the canal was merely a "ribbon of water between two steep embankments covered with weed infested stone rip-rap" before the bridge was constructed.

Finally, project coordinators successfully completed a pedestrian link between the Central Canal Towpath and the Monon Trail. Since the construction of the Monon, this area acted as an underdeveloped pedestrian path between the trail and the Guilford bridge -- and was subject to erosion due to the high volume of foot traffic. To remedy this problem, a series of concrete terraces replaced the eroding embankment, and for the first time the area became suitable for pedestrian use.

These improvements have no doubt been useful, but they leave us wondering what else we may have enjoyed. The question begs to be asked - where could we have gone, and how do we still get there?

Contained within the 163 page canal action plan is a menu of ideas developed from public forums, BRVA meetings and the Indianapolis Water Company. The ideas are simple; establish a soft, vibrant landscape along the canal while enhancing pedestrian mobility in hopes of creating a family friendly, daytime destination.

While there are myriad ideas within the plan to choose, the highlights include additional bridge construction and enhancement, the formation of a performing arts center in the center of the village and countless proposals for the aesthetic enhancement of the canal.

Authors of the action plan claim that bridges add distinction to any community, especially a pedestrian oriented one such as Broad Ripple. Like the bridge at College Ave., plans were developed for the construction of a footbridge adjacent to the intersection of Carrollton Ave. and the canal. The plan called for a bridge of elegance and grace unprecedented in Broad Ripple - one that arches over the water "in a fashion similar to bridges found in the canals in Venice. . . or in the Paris Public gardens like the Parc de Bercy."

In addition to the construction of this footbridge, plans were also announced for the aesthetic and structural overhaul of the bridge at Westfield Blvd. The existing viaduct would have been replaced with a clean, arched structure - including a significant pedestrian walkway. Local artists would have created features to be displayed along the bridge to celebrate the character and funk of Broad Ripple.

These three bridges (at College Ave., Carrollton Ave. and Westfield Blvd.) were meant to fuse together what is currently perceived as two sides of a village bisected by a canal.

Perhaps the most significant change to the Broad Ripple landscape was the proposed construction of a performing arts center between the Fire Station and the Guilford Bridge. Plans called for a cascading amphitheater at the canal's northern embankment where people could have gathered to watch a public performance on a grand theatrical stage that was to be built on the opposite side of the waterway. The stage and amphitheater would provide residents and visitors the unique experience of watching a performance at nearly water level.

Finally, the action plan called for a drastic aesthetic overhaul to the general look and feel of the canal, making it a more beautiful place for everyone to enjoy. On the canal's northern and southern embankments, streets, parked cars and distasteful slabs of concrete rob the area of what could be open vistas for the passage of pedestrians.

The plan calls for all of this be replaced with lit, concrete walks with a wood edge treatment to protect the embankment from erosion. The steep slopes would be fortified with shrubs, grasses and flowers to soften the harsh look of the canal, and to provide an effective barrier for geese and ducks. Several canal overlooks were suggested to allow pedestrians to enjoy the flow of the water.

Lastly, a plan was set to remove Laverock Road entirely to provide space for a perennial garden at the Canal's west end. The space, currently used for traffic guardrails, streetlights and angled parking spaces, would be a lavish horticultural venue with ample lighting for nighttime enjoyment.

So Now What?

The scope of these plans might seem far reaching and unattainable, but remember that they were once moments away from becoming reality. It seems a tremendous letdown that a few complications and certain disinterested community leaders have stalled these plans for nearly eight years.

It is this reporter's opinion that the canal is integral to the life and spirit our Village, undeniably tied to Broad Ripple's economic interests and social landscape. A commitment to the enhancement of the canal is a mark of our vested interest in the growth, progress and future of our community.

It is only the voice of a community that can enact change. With that, I urge you to consider these long forgotten plans in hopes that one day they will again be brought to life.