The canal is a part of the White River State Park, which also encompasses the Indianapolis Zoo, Victory Field, Eiteljorg Museum, Indiana State Museum, and NCAA Headquarters. The park also includes walkways and greenways on the western edge of downtown, providing a wonderful diversion for people living and working nearby. It is located just north of Washington Street, west of West Street, and south of New York. You can read my entry on the Indianapolis Zoo in this journal. The WRSP website contains a map, directions, and event listings.
The Central Canal in downtown Indianapolis is one of my favorite things about the city. It is a shining example of how far Indianapolis has come as a world-class city. It originally began in 1836 to connect the Wabash and Erie Canals to the Ohio River but was never completed. At the time, only 8 miles of the canal in Indianapolis were dug and filled. The canal fell into disrepair until it was renovated in 1996, and it now stretches 10½ blocks from 11th Street to Washington Street, where it empties out into the White River.
My favorite part of the canal is at the beginning, just off 10th Street. A waterfall flows down into a large pool, and the hill around the canal is built up into levels for a perfect picnic spot. As you walk down the canal, you pass lots of condos and apartment buildings and some businesses. At any time, you can walk back up the stairs to reach city streets. During the summer months, paddleboats and bikes are available for rent near Ohio Street. The cost is between $12-25 an hour, depending on what you rent. It looks like so much fun! The canal winds around near the new Indiana State Museum and Medal of Honor Memorial. The Medal of Honor Memorial is on your right and is a touching and beautiful dedication to those who served our country. The landscaping in the summer is breathtaking—wildflowers and swaying grasses recreate the Indiana plains.
The canal finally cascades through a series of waterfalls down into the White River. While the canal walkway ends here, you can keep walking over the bridge and onto the riverwalk, which winds down behind the zoo and continues along the river. The canal walk is about a mile long, but the riverwalk extends several more miles.
The canal is beautiful, clean, well-landscaped, and fun for walkers, runners, bikers, and families. I would hesitate to venture out at night, though, only because there aren’t a lot of people out at night. Second, there isn’t much development yet along the canal. One food court is located at the government building off Ohio, and the Indiana History Center and Indiana State Museum both have cafes open. Otherwise, bring your own picnic or grab a bite to eat at the Bourbon Street Distillery (Vermont and Indiana).