Garfield Park
Indianapolis, Indiana

The City of Indianapolis maintains multiple park systems that were influenced during the early 20th Century by several notable landscape architects including John Charles Olmsted, the Olmsted Brothers firm and George Kessler. Garfield Park is one of the multitude of parks that stands out as an example from this time period and exhibits unique features designed or proposed by George Kessler, Landscape Architect for the Indianapolis Parks Board of Commissioners from 1908 through 1915.

Heritage Landscapes completed a comprehensive, thorough cultural landscape report in September 2004. Extensive historic research documented pre-park farm and beech grove, park origins, Kessler design and implementation, park evolution and changes through time to the present day. Field reconnaissance included a detailed survey of canopy, trunk and root zone conditions for the 1760 park trees. Heritage Landscapes sought to understand the contemporary use of the park through use survey, observation and community meetings. Key Parks Department staff members were interviewed to assess park maintenance and programs. Heritage Landscapes analyzed historic park landscape units, scenic park character and compared historic as-built conditions in the 1930s to conditions today. Findings indicated a loss of scenic quality, fragmented pedestrian and bicycle trail system, degraded stream corridors, and lack of easy connection and coordination between facilities. Recommendations address park rehabilitation to include capital projects, maintenance and operations and park programs. Implementation priorities and initial project recommendations are set forth in detail to aid in successful execution. In 2005, Heritage Landscapes received a Merit Award from the Vermont Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects in the category of Planning and Analysis for work exhibited in the Garfield Park Cultural Landscape Report.

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