Riverside, a once thriving community along the White River on the city’s near-west side, has experienced many changes over the years. It’s historic, no doubt, but not immune to challenges.
Its landscape, impacted by white flight and corporate economic disengagement, includes a sprawling city park, a housing addition that was formerly the site of an infamously segregated amusement park, a soapbox derby hill, golf courses and a now-defunct naval armory that will serve a new purpose when Herron High School opens its second campus there.
The area, which reaches to 30th Street on the north and Fall Creek to the south, is still a source of pride for generations of longtime residents and those seeking to preserve the legacy and secure the future of this Indianapolis gem.
Pastor Shaune Shelby, of Ebenezer Baptist Church, said he and his congregants plan to put their pride in action through an interactive event that will take place during this year’s Spirit and Place Festival.
Spirit and Place, a legacy project of the Polis Center, will take place Nov. 4–13. The festival, the theme of which is “Home,” will feature more than 100 different community events.
For Shelby, participating in Spirit and Place was about more than merely hosting an event. He is hoping it will be an opportunity to change what he believes is a debilitating narrative about the community he loves.
“The media will talk about the crime and drugs. Politicians will talk about the community blight and home ownership being down and all those ills that affect most communities. I think for far too long the broader community has painted us as a place that’s not suitable to be called home,” he said.
“I think people need to know that Riverside is home for a lot of people in this city. It represents a history that is rich. There are some great, phenomenal people that have come out of this experience. (Ebenezer) has been a pivotal place on the west side, so I thought it was important that we help Riverside speak its message.”
Ebenezer’s event — Riverside Speaks! Past, Present and Future — will be held on Nov. 5 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at 1901 N. Harding St. Attendees will be have an opportunity to listen to stories from local legends and history makers as part of a pop-up museum that will feature front pages from the Indianapolis Recorder archives and docents dressed in 1960s-era attire.
Visitors will also be invited participate in an old-fashioned Baptist worship service, check out a display of ladies’ church hats from congregations across the city and tour a newly rehabbed home, located nearby at 2501 N. Harding St.
Ebenezer is currently seeking community members with ties to Riverside, an interest in local Black history or talent in theatrics to be involved, as well as corporate sponsorship and volunteers. Congregations that would like to donate a church hat from their first lady or another prominent member to be displayed are encouraged to participate, as well.
“This event will showcase the neighborhood in all its glory — we want to make sure people have a meaningful experience,” said Shelby. “We’re encouraging all the homeowners up and down Harding Street to shine up their homes; the whole neighborhood will be on display for that day. (There are) a lot of things to (the event), but what (attendees) can expect is to be engaged in this neighborhood in a totally different way.”
Insight Development Corporation, the firm responsible for the rehabbed home that will be showcased Nov. 5, is currently in the process of acquiring and renovating 50 area homes as part of its “Rock n Riverside” initiative. Insight, the nonprofit development arm of the Indianapolis Housing Agency, plans to execute this project over the next few years.
“Riverside is poised for redevelopment … Rock n Riverside is the first publically supported homeownership initiative for this neighborhood for more than a decade,” said Wendy Cooper, Insight’s senior special projects manager. “This three-to-five-year project will address the most challenging properties that are creating blight and challenges for existing residents. Riverside has many blocks where there is pride of ownership and then one or two boarded, problematic properties. The restoration of those houses will renew the vibrancy of this community and strengthen the property value for longtime property owners.”
Cooper shared that the development project is a promising prospect for potential homebuyers. “Rock n Riverside provides an opportunity for young people to become homeowners and create long-term, sustainable wealth for their families as previous generations did,” she said. “There are lots of opportunities in and around Riverside, including the sale of the former CSX rail line to the City of Indianapolis, the development of 16 Tech and the cleanup of the former Carrier Bryant site. The neighborhood is engaged, and residents have been part of the solutions that continue to move the neighborhood forward.”
Shelby said beyond the event this fall, his church plans to continue working and advocating for the future of Riverside. Some of Ebenezer’s other outreach efforts include offering English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for Spanish-speaking residents, a food pantry at its Rainbow House center (located on the corner of 19th and Dexter) and upcoming workshops on financial education and homeownership readiness.
“People don’t see the west side as we see it,” he said. “We have an interest in stabilizing the community… I think it’s rapidly changing, so for us, we’re always trying to extend our arm, extend our church to be a meeting place — to be a place of conversation for the community that allows a different voice.”
For more information on Ebenezer Baptist Church and Riverside Speaks, visit ebenezerchurchindy.org or contact event coordinator Connie Barry at cb212be@gmail.com or (317) 631-5946.
