INDIANAPOLIS — The former Women’s Prison property on New York and Randolf has been razed by the state. The 15 acre property has been vacant since 2017.
Originally built in 1872, the state built the prison expressly for women — one of the first in the United States. Later, the Women’s Prison was relocated and the property was repurposed as a re-entry facility for offenders as a way to get back into the community after their sentences were completed.
Since 2017, the property has become an eyesore for the bordering communities of Woodruff Place and Willard Park. Vandals and scrappers have stripped the buildings of valuable metals.
The state has not announced plans for re-use. Community leaders hope that officials will be open to input from residents about re-use of the property, which sits in the middle of a rapidly evolving community.