By Darian Benson for Mirror Indy.
Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration.

Elizabeth Castle drives past what was the Indiana Women's Prison almost daily. She lives a block away in the Willard Park neighborhood on the near east side.

"I have heard of teenagers shooting guns and hiding in the old prison building according to neighborhood emails and have seen people wandering around the remains of buildings," Castle said.

Neighbors say the long-vacant Indiana Women's Prison site is in terrible shape, and they hope the city can assist them in redeveloping the property.

"The site is just sitting there, gradually deteriorating," said Will Pritchard, a member of the Indiana Women's Prison Alliance, a group advocating for redevelopment.

"Sometimes the windows are open. Sometimes there's holes in the roofs. It's often not mowed. It's collecting trash around the site."

The Indiana Department of Administration, the agency that maintains and manages all state property, owns the property, which has been vacant for seven years. The Women's Prison was relocated to the west side in 2009, and the eastside property became a reentry facility for the Marion County criminal justice system until closing in 2017.

The Indiana Department of Administration's website states the grounds are mowed by maintenance crews every three to four weeks, weather permitting.

Neighbors think city is better positioned to manage property

The alliance and several surrounding neighborhood organizations are calling for the state to transfer ownership of the property to the city, believing the city is better positioned to plan the property's future.

Pritchard believes, after speaking with city officials, that Indianapolis is open to receiving the site from the state. He said the city has more experience working with neighborhoods and has plans for eastside redevelopment. He has heard the state might also be interested in transferring ownership to the city in exchange for an unidentified property currently owned by the city.

The Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development declined to comment.

"It's probably the biggest, dilapidated vacant site on the east side, and it is owned by the state of Indiana, which is really outrageous when you think about it that a site with that reputation is actually owned by the state government," Pritchard said.

The future of the site is unclear. Molly Timperman, a spokesperson for the Department of Administration, said the state isn't ready to make a decision on what to do with the site. When it is, "we are happy to have a community conversation," she said.

Pritchard lives in Woodruff Place, one of three neighborhoods surrounding the former women's prison. The alliance has asked the three neighborhoods - Willard Park, Woodruff Place and St. Clair Place - to write letters in support of the property transfer. The alliance has also requested a meeting with the Department of Administration and the mayor's office.

He hopes to come to a resolution before Gov. Eric Holcomb leaves office, worrying that the clock will restart under a new state administration. Neighborhood leaders and the state haven't always seen eye to eye.

The state has demolished most of the buildings at the former prison except for a few, including the chapel, administration building and a few dormitories. The state had set aside money to tear down the remaining buildings, but the neighborhoods blocked the demolition.

Pritchard said the state needed the neighborhoods' approval to demolish the remaining buildings because they are classified as historic. The neighborhoods aren't ready to give that approval until they know more about plans for redevelopment or reuse.

"We don't want to give our approval to tear down the buildings, because we don't trust that the DOA will build something on the site that's conducive to the surrounding neighborhoods" Pritchard said. "And we're not convinced that they will include the neighborhoods' input, either."

Regardless, Timperman said the money that had been set aside to demolish the remaining buildings was used for other state projects and is no longer available.

What the neighborhood wants

A few years ago the alliance conducted a survey asking residents what they would like to see replace the abandoned site. Requests ranged from houses, to a workforce development training center to a grocery store.

"They have not said to the state or to the mayor's office, 'Here's what we want to see there,' because there's such a diversity of views," Pritchard said. "Their primary request is, their only request is to involve us in the decision."

Castle says the space has a lot of potential. She envisions mixed-use space for housing, entertainment and exercise.

"My greatest concern for the property staying vacant is at best a missed opportunity for the near east side," Castle said. "And at worst, an eyesore for all the neighbors around and potentially an enabler for criminal activity."


Darian Benson wrote this article for Mirror Indy.


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Eight Wisconsin cities, including four rural communities, will receive improvements to help make their communities more livable. Eleven grantees collectively received more than $100,000 in funds to implement quick-action projects this year through AARP Wisconsin's Community Challenge.

Jennifer Stephany, executive director with Creative Downtown Appleton Inc., is a past recipient that used the funds to install a seasonal "parklet" - or mobile patio - in an area that lacked these amenities. She said the aluminum parklet is handicap accessible and includes three tables and six chairs, with planters and herbs for public use.

"So it's rosemary and basil, and we even had some kale in there, and we take care of watering it throughout the summer, and residents can just come down and pick the fresh herbs," she explained.

Stephany worked with the City of Appleton to develop a citywide policy for parklets, adding that the grant funds were instrumental given the funding constraints organizations like hers face.

Darren Wasniewski, senior associate state director for community outreach, AARP Wisconsin, noted the funds are designated for immediate actions to improve quality and accessibility for residents of all ages and abilities, with projects to be completed by December 15. He said these projects often spark community interest in similar initiatives to meet local needs.

As Wasniewski put it, "Not all of our grantees need to go on and change city policy, but it's always great when they can be used as that catalyst to have these public discussions about, 'Is there something that we can change to make the community livable for all?'"

Some of this year's AARP-funded projects include handicap accessibility improvements to public spaces, home repairs for seniors, digital access and literacy expansion, and housing alternatives. The full list of 2025 grant recipients is on AARP's website.

Minnesotans gathered at the state Capitol last night for a candlelight vigil for Rep. Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, after she was assassinated early Saturday. People close to her hope her legacy inspires acts that benefit communities all over.

Following the shooting attack that left Hortman and her husband dead, the couple's adult children issued a statement urging residents to honor their parents' memory in a variety of ways. One of them is to plant a tree.

Anne-Marie Hendrickson, director of development of the nonprofit Tree Trust, said they accept donations to replant groups of trees in Twin Cities neighborhoods devastated by invasive species, and added the Hortmans' home city is a good fit.

"We do have a relationship with Brooklyn Park," she said. "So, you know, maybe it's all the funds raised, for instance, as a result of their deaths could be used to replant trees in a Brooklyn Park park. And volunteers would be engaged to come out and plant those trees."

Rep. Hortman's two decades in the Legislature, including several years as House Speaker, is being described as one of the more impactful careers at the State Capitol. Lawmakers from both major parties have noted her strong commitment to improving the lives of Minnesotans. The family statement concluded with a request for people "to do something, whether big or small," centered around community improvement.

Michael Nicklow, CEO of Let's Plant Trees, said they have plenty of volunteer opportunities, including memorial plantings.

"It's a beautiful thing to do to carry on that legacy, of course, and trees are a beautiful thing - not only for our generation but for future generations, mostly, " he said.

LeAnn Thiner, co-director of the Worthington Christian Church Food Shelf, said operations like hers could always use volunteers with aging staff members stepping down, and added that helping to ensure your neighbor has enough food to eat is an excellent way to show they're supported by their surrounding community, no matter the size of the volunteer job involved.

"Volunteering at a food shelf is a very rewarding thing to do," she explained. "The people come in here, and after you've gotten to know them for a while, they come and say, 'Hi, how are you doing?' They always say thank you."


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As Minnesotans process this weekend's shooting attacks on lawmakers, they are surrounded by talking points about turning down the political temperature and people well-versed in humanities said it cannot be half-hearted.

Renewed calls for voters to listen to each other and pull back on hateful comments are often met with skepticism in today's politics.

Kevin Lindsey, CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center, said in the course of American history, there are many instances when it has failed to govern with logic and reason, and now is one of those times. He stressed the role voters play should be grounded in healthy curiosity when debating the issues.

"Really being curious, wanting to work in conversation and wanting to know more about the other person," Lindsey recommended. "Not just responding with the idea of winning the argument."

He explained people need to be humble in such situations and not think they have all the answers. Voters aligned with either major party might argue it is unfair to take that road if they assume the other side will not. Lindsey agreed people cannot compromise their principles with major policy decisions and if the final outcome is not what they hoped for, nonviolent dissent will always be an option, like peaceful protests.

Minnesota is seeing more diversity, with notable population gains from India, Mexico and Somalia. Lindsey encouraged residents to learn more about the New Americans and their backgrounds, instead of making assumptions. He emphasized not being genuinely curious about a new neighbor is a missed opportunity.

"When we fail to see and value and appreciate our neighbors, then it doesn't really matter about our law, it doesn't really matter the words within the Constitution," Lindsey contended. "That's really the essence of our democracy."

As for hateful comments, Lindsey advised all voters and leaders need to call out messages viewed as inciting violence. He added it cannot just be politicians who need to police each other on the issue, urging leaders from all facets of society to speak up when they see rhetoric that clearly crosses the line.


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