Natural Resources — Thrive Indianapolis

Natural Resources: (NR:1) Green spaces and trees are sustained and equitably expanded.

	Action	Status
NR:1A	Implement a policy to ensure the use of 100% native plants and proactive removal of invasive species in parks and along greenways by 2022.	In Progress
NR:1B	Increase green spaces to improve stormwater infiltration and ensure appropriate ongoing maintenance by 2022.	In Progress
NR:1C	Create a per capita spending goal of at least $50 (from the existing $26) to maintain the parks and recreation system through applicable creative financing options, and develop steps to move towards this goal.	In Progress
NR:1D	Plant 30,000 additional native trees by 2025 to increase canopy, reduce runoff and mitigate against the urban heat island, particularly in those neighborhoods in most need.	Complete

NR:1A - Office of Land Stewarship

Native plants form the basis of our ecosystems. The Office of Land Stewardship manages 1,966 acres of natural area across 37 park properties and more than 155,000 square feet of city rain gardens that assist in filtering stormwater runoff. Land Stewardship holds a leadership role by preserving critical wildlife habitats, providing passive recreational opportunities, protecting air quality and addressing stormwater issues.

The City of Indianapolis’ Native Planting Area Program focuses on educating the public about using native plants in their landscaping to help build critical habitats for wildlife and combat the growing problem of invasive plants. The Native Planting Area program recognizes residents who use primarily native plantings in their residential landscapes with program designation signage. For more information, please visit Land Stewardship.

NR:1d - COMPLETE

The spring of 2023 marked the celebration of the 30,000th native species tree planted in public spaces since 2018. This achievement is ahead of schedule (before 2025) and is only possible thanks to the work of the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Urban Forestry & Land Stewardship divisions), Indy Parks and Recreation, Citizens Energy Group, AES Indiana, Downtown Indy, IUPUI, and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.!

Thanks to KIB's Key Neighborhood Identification Tool (KNIT) score system, all these trees are being planted in the neighborhoods that need (and want) them most -- making communities more resilient to our changing climate due to decreased temperatures, increased stormwater retention, and cleaner air.

NR:1D - 30,000 Trees

Our natural resources are one of Indianapolis’s greatest assets. Aside from the understood value of clean air and water, natural spaces offer several benefits: help lower energy use, reduce urban heat island, minimize impacts of flooding, promote safe neighborhoods, and support mental and physical health.

Indianapolis is a certified “Tree City USA.” In 2022, the Arbor Day Foundation recognized the city for meeting program standards for the 35th year. Further, Indianapolis has received the Tree City USA Growth Award 14 times— an award that highlights innovative urban forestry programs and projects. Since then, the bar was reset to plant 30,000 trees in the public right-of-way before 2025. As of 2022, 31,595 trees have been planted toward that goal.

Keep indianapolis beautiful

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful works with the City of Indianapolis to plant hundreds of trees every year all over the city in public spaces. This partnership encourages residents to help accomplish community goals by volunteering with KIB.

Join a like-minded community: Meet new people of all ages and backgrounds who share a common vision for a safer, cleaner, more beautiful Indianapolis.

Gain expertise: All volunteers receive instructions from trained staff. As a result, volunteers come away with useful information and hands-on experience that they can take back to their own homes and neighborhood projects.

Make a visible impact: Volunteers work all over Indianapolis planting trees, transforming vacant lots into pocket parks, and picking up litter. KIB provides the tools, so all you need to bring is your desire for community improvement. For more information, please visit Volunteer with KIB.

Natural Resources: (NR:2) Air and water quality meet or exceed federal standards.

	Action	Status
NR:2A	Analyze traffic signal upgrades, roundabouts and other congestion control measures in Indianapolis, and develop an implementation plan by 2022.	Action Needed
NR:2B	Develop and deploy a more robust stormwater and water quality education program, including addressing chemicals in landscaping, by 2022.	In Progress
NR:2C	Reduce the burning of gasoline and diesel by increasing the use of transportation alternatives through the Indy Moves Plan and promoting idling reduction programs.	In Progress
NR:2D	Through the Energy Benchmarking program, promote initiatives that improve water conservation with 1,000 participating businesses by 2022.	In Progress

NR:2B - Stormwater Resources

When heavy rains cause flooding and drainage issues in city streets and sidewalks, notify Citizen's Water at 317.924.3311. For environmental concerns, illegal dumping, road project construction concerns, or other requestable city services, visit RequestIndy or contact the Mayor's Action Center at 317.327.4MAC. In emergency flooding situations, call 911.

For more information about resident responsibilities, view Stormwater - General Public or visit Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District to learn more about ways to help care for the land. Best management practices for stormwater infrastructure like ditches, ponds, and green infrastructure can be found at Stormwater - Best Management Practices. For more information about the city’s stormwater resources, please visit Indy DPW - Stormwater.

Clear Choices Clean Water

Indiana Clear Choices Clean Water® is an award-winning national program designed to increase awareness about the choices we each make and the impact they have on our waterways. CCCW encourages everyone (adults and kids alike) to pledge to start or continue behaviors that improve water quality and water conservation. Take an action pledge and calculate how much pollution you prevented from entering our waterways. In the Impact Map, you can see how your actions combine with others’ to positively impact our waterways.

Indy DPW shares Indiana Clear Choices Clean Water content with the public on social media.

Adopt-A-Block with KIB

The Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Adopt-A-Block program empowers residents, businesses, and schools to bring beautification and neighborhood revitalization to streets or alleyways citywide. Adopt-A-Block participants are provided the term “Block Captains”. AAB Captains are provided free tools and resources, to keep blocks, including storm drains, clear of litter throughout the year. For more information, please visit KIB Adopt-A-Block.

NR:2C - Indy Moves Plan

Indy Moves Transportation Integration Plan was published in 2018 and is a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Transportation plans show how Marion County’s transportation network supports personal mobility, economic opportunity, and neighborhood connectivity. They help determine system expansion needs related to development or redevelopment activities. The plans also guide public investment in the transportation network.

For more information, please visit Comprehensive Plan for the City-County.

Pacers BikeShare

Indiana Pacers Bikeshare is a program of Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. (ICT, Inc.). Thanks to the generous gift of the Herb Simon Family Foundation, Indy's public bicycle-sharing system is named after our very own Indiana Pacers basketball team. With 50 stations and 500 bikes, the Pacers Bikeshare bikes are available to anyone. To ride a bike visit any bikeshare station kiosk or download the BCycle App. EveryBody Rides is a program of Indiana Pacers Bikeshare that provides an opportunity for EveryBody, regardless of gender, age, race, income level, shape, and size to have access to the gold Pacers Bikeshare bikes in Indianapolis. For more information, please visit Indiana Pacers Bike Share.