Tactical urbanism is the practice of solving problems in the built environment when the government refuses to do so. Common tactical urbanist projects include setting up benches at bus stops, adding bollards to bike lanes, painting crosswalks, and installing trash cans. The only limit to what tactical urbanism can achieve is your imagination!
Tactical Indy will be cataloguing our projects below. We only have one so far, but we hope to carry out many more successful projects in the future!
The White River Rock Flat is one of the most obvious venues for tactical urbanism in Indianapolis. It has the potential to be a beautiful park, and it is already used for fishing, rockhounding, cycling, running, and other general outdoor recreation. Unfortunately, after a failed real estate development effort at the site, it was effectively abandoned by the City several years ago.Â
Before putting up our own trash cans, we contacted the Parks Department to ask them to place trash cans. They were unaware that the site even exists, and refused responsibility. At the time the cans were put up, Tactical Indy had cleaned up more than 15 large trash bags worth of litter, and we hope to clean up far more!
Tactical Indy is not affiliated with the City of Indianapolis in any official capacity. We are not a department of the City, law enforcement, consultants, engineers, property holders, lawyers, or similar. We are just Indy residents who want to see positive changes in and around Indianapolis.