I think this park is going to hit people who walk by as an oddity. Why is this here? What is the purpose?

And if you aren't familiar with the area's history, particularly in relation to the interstate highway system, then this park will seem quite odd.

There are some signs within the park that hint at the history. But basically this park is meant to unify three neighborhoods that were divided by the interstate highway system. Bates Hendricks, Fletcher Place, and Fountain Square.

And they weren't just divided, but caused an economic slump that lasted for decades.

The Fletcher Place and Fountain Square neighborhoods of today have really only been on the upswing over the last decade or so.

Now decades later, we know as residents that it is super convenient to be able to basically get in your car and get anywhere quickly. No matter where you are in Indianapolis, you likely aren't far from I-65, I-70, or I-465.

But there are social and economic costs to this. And decades later, we hopefully will have the foresight to make better decisions as we re-think our interstate highway system than we did before.

That's the context this should be put in. And so it presents a unique piece of Indianapolis history in an odd way, so you get to experience the interstate from a safe (and very, very loud) distance.