HERE'S MY YEAR IN REVIEW

2024 in the Ripple

by Bill Malcolm

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was overall a great year for Broad Ripple. Now we have to get the word out. The good news: the roads are done, the dam re build is done, the weekend night crime issue has been abated. The Vogue opened a new venue next door. Gina's juice bar opened. The new Kroger apartments are almost done. Broad Ripple School has been re-purposed into a middle school (albeit with hiccups) and our winter Farmer's Market is there.

The bad news: Hopcat closed. Starbucks closed. Public Greens closed. Broad Ripple Avenue looks sad with too many vacancies. The Red Line lacks fare checkers and crime is a problem. Too many riders are not going anywhere. (And yes, I had my iPhone stolen and IndyGo refused to release the video to Channel 8 which did a story to identify the thief even though there are 11 cameras on each bus.)

We need to reboot and rebrand Broad Ripple in order to let the region know we are back open for business and it's a great way to spend the day or the evening.

We need more events like Broad Ripple Lights up and the Ripple Effect Run.

We need the BRVA to lose their slated voting which allows incumbents to select 5 candidates to vote on for their Board.

We need to partonize our businesses new and old and thank them for staying open during COVID/road construction/weekend issues/and the dam re build.

Broad Ripple remains the best neighborhood in Indianapolis by far. With three great parks nearby, our great Family Center (yes I opposed putting Community Health Network on Park land but the building is very nice), the fabulous Monon Trail (and we have the prettiest section), our walkability, our shopping (including the wonderful Fresh Thyme), and more. We need also to ensure we are letting our businesses know we appreciate them (even CVS!). And we need to promote an amenity which few other neighborhoods have (sorry Carmel and Fishers): the Red Line. We can be downtown in 20 minutes for $1.75. And no parking worries. We can be in Fountain Square in 30 minutes, and more. We need to support and publicize the wonderful Red Line Bus Rapid Transit which runs every 15 minutes so if you miss a bus, the next one is just minutes away.

We have more hair salons than any other neighborhood. (Thank you Bobby Cooper.) We remain an eclectic, family friendly, health oriented neighborhood that welcomes all.

We have great restaurants (Northside Social, Northside Kitchenette, Bazbeaux, and more).

Onto to 2025.

You can see (from the top):