INDIANAPOLIS — Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park Task Force earned top honors from fellow neighborhood and community advocates during the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center’s (INRC) annual meeting held Sept. 26, when it received the 2017 Collaborative Spirit Award.
In its 12th year, the Collaborative Spirit Award is presented annually to a community project that celebrates unique partnerships across a neighborhood. The partnership reflects strong resident leadership, while embracing the spirit of cooperation and community involvement.
The Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park Task Force was formed after neighbors voted unanimously to support the project. Working with several partners, including Indy Parks, the Department of Public Works, Otterbein Neighborhood Association and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, neighbors cleared the trail, planted over 100 trees, and erected signage. Paramount School of Excellence engaged 8th grade students to develop youth art installations, and Ethel Winslow, editor of The Weekly View developed a welcome/history panel of the park. A new grant from Reconnecting Our Waterways will enable the repair and replacement of park benches. The Task Force has also developed plans to maintain trails and trees, and formed the Park Watch Program in partnership with the IMPD Rangers to ensuring that the property and amenities remain safe and maintained for people to visit and enjoy.
The award’s selection process, which involves INRC and previous award recipients, offers a unique twist. Award finalists presented at INRC’s annual meeting, and all of the meeting participates voted for the winning project. Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park Task Force also received a small cash award.
INRC now will nominate Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park Task Force for a national award from Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA). Four previous Collaborative Spirit Award winners have received NUSA’s top prize, the Neighborhood of the Year Award, the most recent being I Am Ubuntu for their Near Eastside Reentry Expo.
“The Collaborative Spirit Award highlights the unsung heroes in our neighborhoods, particularly the people who bring diverse projects and viewpoints together for their community’s common good,” said Anne-Marie Taylor, executive director of INRC. “These projects are done with little to no financial backing, but with extraordinary commitment and dedication from engaged volunteers. We are so proud of our finalists and the Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park Task Force for their work.”
The other two finalists for the Collaborative Spirit Award were Greenbriar Soccer Club and Bean Creek Neighborhood Association.
