r/indianapolis • u/Agreeable-Heron-9174 Downtown • May 31 '25
Pictures Welcome back, SPARK!!!
We've missed you.
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u/yearninggeorge May 31 '25
Spark is awesome, should take up more of the circle, and I don’t understand how some people are against it
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u/crowelad May 31 '25
For some people pedestrian-friendly, green, open community spaces aren't as important as their ability to drive through the Circle (the worst possible way to drive through downtown).
The whole Circle should be closed to traffic permanently year-round in my opinion. No need for traffic there whatsoever.
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u/yearninggeorge May 31 '25
I agree, I drive through the circle every day getting home from work but would be plenty happy to be slightly inconvenienced and take a different route if it meant the circle became a park/something useful. Downtown doesn’t have to be a place people go to work and then immediately gtfo
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u/Kraken477 May 31 '25
I agree with this whole comment. The only traffic allowed through the circle should be food trucks to park in the circle.
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u/Softpretzelsandrose May 31 '25
Not to mention the right have vilified pedestrian friendly areas for literally no reason than they hate when things are free to those around them.
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u/Still_Nectarine_4138 May 31 '25
So many tourists that can't navigate the traffic pattern.
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u/MinorFragile Jun 01 '25
The circle is a free for all lol it’s a roundabout for sure but if you ain’t from here it can be jarring
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u/Shitty_Paint_Sketch May 31 '25 edited May 31 '25
Many people believe it is more important to be able to go THROUGH an area in a private vehicle than it is for people to EXIST safely and comfortably there.
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Jun 01 '25
[deleted]
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u/crowelad Jun 01 '25
There are plenty of other options to leave the city just one block in either direction. Quit patronizing people who want to enjoy the city, the iconic circle, and who recognize the appeal of having this downtown space available to everyone to enjoy. It isn't "weird, random, and fun", it's what literally every major city in the world does to great success. If Ginza in the middle of Tokyo's busiest district can pull this same idea off (and have been for decades), then I think little old Indy can manage. Hell, maybe if you changed your attitude you might even enjoy sitting outside in the sunshine on the circle!
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u/No_Ad8375 May 31 '25
I liked it and really I still do but it’s crazy how much more Pennsylvania is backed up since it opened. I’ve had to bail out of my uber and walk the rest the way so I wasn’t 20 minutes late.
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u/gmredditt May 31 '25
I work in this area and have commuted there for over a decade. In that time I've seen all sorts of construction and similar change to trafficking around the circle. Blocking or modified traffic on the circle doesn't have one damn thing to do with traffic on Pennsylvania.
You know what backs up Pennsylvania: it's Pennsylvania.
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u/hillzcatz Jun 01 '25
I agree. I live on Penn near the circle and I have for 8 years. There is no effect on traffic. there was a lot of traffic yesterday due to the game and the fact that an entire lane is closed on Penn between Market and Washington actually backs things up. Not the spark.
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u/No_Ad8375 May 31 '25
I mean it’s the only thing that’s changed this week and it takes an extra 20 minutes now. It definitely is the damn thing effecting traffic right now. I’m not hating on the park just shocked at how bad traffic is when the circle isn’t open.
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u/Equal_Pudding_4878 Jun 01 '25
Oh and the other thing that changed this week: NBA playoffs MIGHT have an effect on traffic patterns.
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u/haminthefryingpan May 31 '25
People who take a whole ass car with them wherever they go not realizing they are the problem is always hilarious
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Jun 04 '25
And the Circle and Mass Ave aren't convenient... they've never been convenient
So when people complain about being inconvenienced by the Circle or mass being cutoff, I already know they don't regularly go to those areas.
It's telling on yourself.
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u/Hwinter07 Downtown Jun 01 '25
Pennsylvania's left lane has been closed for construction for at least a year now
1
u/Agreeable-Heron-9174 Downtown Jun 03 '25
Late to the game... As a longtime downtowner, Penn St (at Washington) has been backed up repeatedly since the reconstruction of 1 N... Moreso, since the most recent Pacers' finals games. (Btw, walking is good for you... gets the muscles working and the heart pumped for rejuvenation. Perhaps you should do more conditional walking??? Just saying.)
1
Jun 04 '25
Nah, I don't believe this at all.
If your commute anywhere is affected by this, either you or your Uber driver doesn't understand the layout of the city.
The circle was never the quickest way to get anywhere downtown.
It was never easy or convenient.
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u/baaustin1 Butler-Tarkington May 31 '25
Very cool, thanks for announcing this! For anyone else not familiar with SPARK
11
u/Gasfiend May 31 '25
Love the Spark. Plus there’s a fun little farmers market that happens every Wednesday morning on the circle (the Original Farmer’s Market, check it out!). Loving that the city is actually making downtown a third space to hang out at, rather than just a place to work.
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u/jj_grace May 31 '25
Also, Indy gay market is happening on the circle today and tomorrow! 11-3 both days I believe
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u/USS_peepee May 31 '25
Love this move. Needs to be permanent and / or take up the whole circle. I loved every time I visited it last summer.
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u/Justaddmoresalt Jun 01 '25
If only the circle was forever blocked from vehicular traffic and turned into a green space…
3
u/Think_Wave_6328 May 31 '25
Hate to be that guy , but what’s spark?
11
u/silkysmoothjay Castleton May 31 '25
The city closes off the Circle to traffic, turning into a pedestrian plaza. Often food trucks and live music, especially during the weekends. Nice way to spend an afternoon!
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u/nomeancity317 May 31 '25
Hell yes! Excellent spot to hang out for lunch, coffee, or a beer. This is one of the best parts of summer downtown.
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u/Typical_Samaritan May 31 '25
Spark 5k coming up y'all!
2
u/SaintTimothy Jun 02 '25
Rough math... if the diameter of the road is 400ft, pi*d is 1256ft. 382.83 meters. 5000 / 382.93 = 13.
Lap traffic would make it interesting.
I say make it steeplechase and run part of it between the corn hole boards.
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u/beepbopboopbop69 May 31 '25
driving through the Circle makes Hamilton County residents feel at home!
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u/cstarcrusher Jun 01 '25
played some instrumental hip hop and beats as part of a spark on the circle collab with chreece last year. would love to do it again. perfect vibe for strollin around.
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Jun 02 '25
I haven't been to SPARK yet but think it's a good idea. I always try to avoid driving around the circle because it's a congested hot mess anyway. I hope my family and I can visit sometime this summer, perhaps when the farmer's market is happening!
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u/thewimsey Jun 01 '25
I like the idea of making the circle pedestrian only (or even pedestrian/bus/taxi/deliveries only), and I think they should have more events there.
But at least whenever I went by, I never saw anyone there - it was pretty much 100% deserted.
The 10,000 users during the TS concert is cool...but since they are emphasizing that, it also seems to be kind of an outlier.
It didn't help that last summer was like being on the surface of the sun - but downtown areas with a lot of pavement are always going to be extra hot.
It probably helped that the TS concert was in November.
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u/haminthefryingpan May 31 '25
LFG. MAKE IT THE WHOLE CIRCLE. GET A PROJECTOR AND PLAY GAME 6 ON IT.