Bagel Fair
Nora tradition
Is this anything?
Nora Plaza updates in 2023. Design.
First Baptist Athletics
First Baptist Athletics is expanding to better serve our community. Park and additional basketball courts among the big plans for the space north of the church. Tax deductible donations can be made to this worthy organization at this link. Cheers to First Baptist for making recreational sports accessible to the north side community.
FBA’s 40-acre property includes 12 baseball fields, 11 soccer fields, and an on-site gym, so families will never have to travel to other facilities to attend practice or play games. More basketball courts to come! FBA also employs local kids to help organize and ref games. If you haven’t seen the organization, stop by on just about any Saturday morning and you’ll see the fields loaded with kids, parents, and grandparents – it’s a great atmosphere.
Update: 10/2023 More on the First Baptist Athletics campaign.
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Nora Housing Rights Event
This event, taking place on Monday, December 19th at First Baptist Church (86th/College Ave) is hosted by Patchwork Indy. The posted schedule is:
5:30 Sign in. 6:00 Food is served. 6:30 Car seat safety. 6:50 Housing Rights Presentation. 7:50 Closing. RSVP here or Scan QR code.
Ice Rink at Holliday Park
Did you know that there is now ice skating at Holliday Park? The outdoor rink is located just outside the nature center with skate rental offered just inside the nature center entrance. The rink accommodations include food/drink vendors, lighted night skating and a few gas firepits for warming up. Check it out soon!
Safety at 86th and Monon. Grants awarded.
Earlier this fall, the Indiana State Department of Health released a request for proposals for a Tactical Urbanism Demonstration Project grant program. Nora Alliance, in conjunction with partners including Bicycle Garage, Inc. and Ball State Center for Civic Design, submitted a proposal for the 86th Street Monon Crossing corridor. This November, our proposal was awarded a grant by the Indiana Department of Health Community Planner. This was followed by a early 2023 grant from the Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA).
Many thanks to the numerous organizations who voiced their support for our demonstration project proposal and the longer-term safety improvements at this important intersection. We are still soliciting support from any organizations that wish to show their support. The project will also require support from the Engineers at the Indianapolis Department of Public Works. Assuming we get DPW support, we will also need:
- Design and execution assistance (Winter 2023, Spring 2024)
- Assistance with petition signature gathering for more permanent changes, including a tunnel (Winter/Spring 2023)
- Donation of project materials (orange barrels during installation, paint, planters, rollers, reflective tape, plants, temporary rumble strips, temporary bollards, etc.) The more we can get donated or purchase at cost, the farther the grant $’s will go. (March/April 2023)
- Installation of project elements (April 2024)
- Citizen-led traffic study to have data to compare to July 2022 study (July 2023),
- Assistance with maintenance of project (May-October 2023)
- Assist with removal of project elements (October 2023)
Fatal accidents at this intersection have prompted renewed attention to the design of the street and path connections. Recent coverage:
Fox 59: https://fox59.com/investigations/here-are-indys-most-dangerous-roads/
Would you like to be involved in the design and execution of a tactical urbanism demonstration project in Nora? Reach out to us or attend our next public meeting.
Sidewalks in Nora
You may have seen sidewalks going in on the east side of Westfield Boulevard between 83rd and 86th Street. This section of sidewalk connects the walkable streets to the south to the North Central High School campus, Jordan YMCA, adjoining retail and more. The sidewalk was built as part of a 2021 Neighborhood Grant Program. Nora Alliance had previously identified this as one critical area for pedestrian and walkability improvements among several in our community. We made Washington Township aware of the grant opportunity and provided them with documentation supporting the need. They applied for the grant and were one of about 12 organizations citywide awarded matching funds to build this key infrastructure. Many thanks to Washington Township leadership and the city for making this happen!
Thanks also to Paragon Realty, Jordan YMCA, Butler Fairman & Seufert Engineers, and other neighborhood stakeholders for their continued interest and engagement with projects like these.
Do you want to get involved with Nora Alliance to make a difference on projects like this? Please send us a note or attend an upcoming event.
Ball State Masters of Urban Development 10, 11, 12
We mentioned in this post our interaction with students from the Ball State Urban Design Studio class. Students focused on inclusivity in design. In no particular order, we want to share the ideas the students presented last year.
6th in series
Travis Johnson with Sensory Saplings. PDF
Joe Howe with Ocular Plaza. PDF
Josh Danzeisen on Town Run Park. PDF
Ball State Masters of Urban Development – 7, 8 & 9
We mentioned in this post our interaction with students from the Ball State Urban Design Studio class. In no particular order, we want to share the ideas the students presented last year.
5th in series
Melanie Miller on Fostering Religious Inclusivity PDF
Adjoa Kennedy on Nora Elementary Park PDF
Karina Kasmauskis on Trailway and Pocket Park Design PDF
Ball State Masters of Urban Development – 4, 5 & 6
We mentioned in this post our interaction with students from the Ball State Urban Design Studio class. In no particular order, we want to share the ideas the students presented last year.
4th in series
Zhuling Page on Urban Agriculture near St. Vincent PDF
Catilin Osburn on Inclusive Design along the Monon Trail PDF
Saben Nusbaum on Williams Creek as an Environmental Hub PDF
