Bezos Earth Fund commits $10 million to transform Indianapolis' Reverend Mozel Sanders Park

Transformational investment in the Haughville Riverfront Vision Plan will reimagine 25 riverfront acres with new trails, wetlands, a community farm, and recreation amenities designed by neighborhood residents

Today, Indy Parks and The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis are announcing a $10-million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to transform the 25-acre Reverend Mozel Sanders Park with inspiration from the Haughville Riverfront Vision Plan. Selected as one of eight projects nationally in cohort II of the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative, the project will plant more than 400 trees, restore native wetlands, build two miles of new trails, and add a community farm and orchard, multi-use fields, sports courts, gathering lawns, and essential park infrastructure.

New trails will connect directly to the Central White River Trail and the regional greenway network, knitting Haughville into the broader citywide and regional park system. The total project budget is $10.6 million, including $600,000 from the Indy Parks Capital Budget.

“Throughout Indianapolis history, the White River has played a central role in both our economy and our community. Even today, the vibrant neighborhoods and beautiful natural landscapes on the riverbank are part of what makes our city so unique,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “This generous grant continues the momentum of historic investment in Indy Parks through the revitalization of a beloved riverfront park in the Haughville neighborhood. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Bezos Earth Fund for identifying Indy as a premier city to invest in, and to Indy Parks, The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis, and the Central Indiana Community Foundation for their dedication to making this project a reality.”

Reverend Mozel Sanders Park is the next chapter in a sweeping reinvestment of the White Riverway, building on completed and ongoing work at Riverside, Southwestway, and Holliday parks. Native landscapes, expanded wetlands, and green stormwater systems are designed to filter an estimated 1.2 million gallons of stormwater each year, help cool surrounding neighborhoods, and reduce flooding risks. Public art, interpretive signage, and the new Haughville Resilience Trail will honor the neighborhood’s history and the legacy of Reverend Mozel Sanders himself.

“At the Bezos Earth Fund, we want to make the planet a place people can and want to live, and that includes making sure people have green spaces woven into daily life — places to cool down and get shade, bring their families, or simply walk through on their commute. Those places shouldn’t be a luxury,” said Tom Taylor, CEO and President of the Bezos Earth Fund. “Greening America’s Cities shows what’s possible when communities, local leaders, and partners come together to transform overlooked spaces into something extraordinary. Our hope is that these projects serve as a blueprint for turning vacant land into community assets and encourage even more investment in green spaces — from government, philanthropy, and others — in cities across the country.”

The grant will be administered by Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) as fiscal sponsor for The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis, while Indy Parks will lead the project’s execution. Design and engineering will begin this fall, with construction set to begin in 2027 and substantial completion expected in 2029.

“This is what happens when national philanthropy meets local leadership with a clear vision,” said Jennifer Bartenbach, CEO of Central Indiana Community Foundation. “The Bezos Earth Fund saw what Haughville residents, Indy Parks, and The Parks Alliance have been building together, and chose to back it. CICF is proud to steward this investment, so it delivers exactly what the community asked for — a stronger, healthier, more connected Indianapolis.”

“Haughville residents told us what they wanted on this riverfront, and the Bezos Earth Fund is making it real,” said Jenny Boyts, Executive Director of The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis. “Reverend Mozel Sanders gave this city fifty years of service — investing in this park in his name, designed by his neighbors and powered by the work of Friends of Belmont Beach and so many local leaders, is the kind of legacy he earned and the community deserves. This investment will expand access to the river, build space where families can gather and grow food, and prove that great parks are how a city shows up for the people who live in it.”

The project came out of the Haughville Riverfront Vision Plan, a partnership with the Friends of Belmont Beach and Visit Indy, which aimed to serve as a guide for the future of a network of parks, trailways, and open spaces on the west bank of the White River within Indianapolis’ Haughville community. The plan was developed through collaborative activities and interviews with the community during 2023 and was formally adopted by the Indianapolis Board of Parks and Recreation on April 16, 2024.

“I’m grateful to the Bezos Earth Fund for their partnership and support of the transformational Reverend Mozel Sanders Park project,” said Indy Parks Director Brittany Crone. “We deeply appreciate the support and hard work of our partners at The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis, The Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), the Friends of Belmont Beach, and the city’s Office of Sustainability to make this project and opportunity possible. This major project will bring together high-quality greenspace, community connection, recreation, and so much more along the White River.”

“This grant shows the power of community, and what happens when people come together around a vision. Friends of Belmont Beach has always been driven by the community, and we’ll now have resources to make sure those voices are woven in even more,” said President of the Friends of Belmont Beach Ted Hardy. “We’re proud to be part of this project, and we’re committed to continuing to support the people who call this place home.”

The grant comes as Indy Parks is nearing the completion of major park improvement projects totaling over $150 million, with 40 parks receiving upgrades in 2026 alone.

• The $80 million Lilly Endowment Grant to Indy Parks is in progress, with 17 projects completed and 27 under construction as of mid June.
• The department invested $17 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to modernize playgrounds, courts, and other amenities at 23 parks.
• $45 million from Circle City Forward went to the Frederick Douglass Family Center, Riverside Promenade and Adventure Park, Grassy Creek Environmental Community Center, and renovated Krannert Park Family Center and new indoor pool.
• Additional projects include the completed $6.8 million MLK Gateway Project and an additional $4 million in projects selected by City County Councilors set to be completed or under construction this year.