What is happening to our Village?

When I was growing up, the most serious offense was jaywalking. Oh my, how times have changed!

My first visits to Broad Ripple were to shop for necessities at the A&P (see photo below), school supplies at Stationers, dresses at Blocks, eating at Borky's, a haircut, doctor and orthodontist appointments. This was the commercial hub for all the families moving to Washington Township (the boundary was Kessler Boulevard). Migrating families depended on Broad Ripple, for without it they had to go downtown for shopping or to Fall Creek for Galyan's grocery or the Lotus Gardens Restaurant at Town and Country. Retail had not caught up with the move to the suburbs.

Broad Ripple has ebbed and flowed with changing demands of the people. Reading early literature, I learned saw mills, hardware stores, grist mills, livery stables, Kingan's ice houses, schools, churches, and even gas drilling wells lined the Canal. During the '40s and '50s, car dealerships, schools, a post office, dress shops, groceries, medical offices, ice cream and dime stores, banks, drug stores, plus a few restaurants populated the Village. Broad Ripple teemed with development.

Fast forward to 2014. Our safe, family-oriented, neighborhood-protected Village seems to be under siege. There are serious questions to be asked and answers to be sought.

What is happening to our family-friendly environment that has long catered to the community?

What can each of us who frequent Broad Ripple for its quality and tradition do?

What core strengths can be reinforced to fortify our future?

What's been done elsewhere that may provide help for us?

How can night violence be stopped?

Look, Broad Ripple can be traced back to 1816 . . . almost 200 years. Did you know in 1906, the Village sought to be annexed into Indianapolis with the hope of getting relief from a $750 debt incurred in closing five saloons because of a Washington Township remonstrance? Have bars become the issue once again?

Broad Ripple tried multiple times to become part of Indianapolis. It was not until June 20, 1922 that this was accomplished. We want folks from Indianapolis to visit the Village, but we don't want them to destroy it. Here's hoping we can mobilize for the good of all. Broad Ripple is far too rich in history to be compromised by recent tragedies.