Crooked Creek Community Council, Inc.
Awards | Achievements | History | Meetings | Contact | Membership |
Vision Statement:
A beautiful, safe, diverse and economically-strong neighborhood that collaboratively fosters a sense of community.
Mission Statement:
Crooked Creek Community Council (C4), a federation of Crooked Creek community-based organizations, works in cooperation and collaboration with its affiliates to ensure a vital quality of life within C4's boundaries. C4 strives to protect the integrity of the community's environment including, but not limited to, the Crooked Creek. Our mission is to address issues, plan, activate and support efforts that serve the needs and interests of C4 residents, businesses, organizations and institutions.
1996 NUSA's "National Neighborhood of the Year"
1996 INRC's "Neighborhood Achievement Award"
1995 Indy Parks "Best Partner Award"
1988 Clean Air Committee's "Clean Air Award"
1996 Sagamore of the Wabash presented to C4's Executive Director by Gov. Bayh
Improved Crooked Creek Community/Juan Solomon Park with trails 2 new picnic shelters, new playground equipment, resurfaced tennis courts and parking lot in partnership with Indy Parks.
Negotiated with Indy Parks for park improvement changes and funding to better meet the needs of the community, including the design of the playground.
Initiation, and development of soccer activities with adult men, women and youth soccer, resulting in soccer activities at Juan Solomon Park six out of seven days a week during the spring, summer and fall.
Spearheaded an effort to obtain IDEM funds to benefit Solomon Park.
Initiated an effort with IDEM to create a Crooked Creek Educational Park to provide environmental education to area elementary, middle and high school students working with their teachers and area college Service Learning Projects.
Initiated redevelopment of retail node on Michigan Road between Kessler and 60th Street. Prospected anchors to include a Crooked Creek Community Public Library Branch and pursuing an effort to locate a Marion County Sheriff's maintenance center and roll call station. Additional plans call for new retail development.
Initiation, creation and development of the www.CrookedCreek.org internet site.
Initiation and development of the Good Neighbors TV program on WCTY-TV 16, which ran for 4 years.
Providing appropriate stewardship concerning numerous land-use issues, some of which are incompatible with our community.
Successfully negotiated expansion of the Michigan Road bridge project to include providing pedestrian access through widening beyond the initial plan. Working with the City of Indianapolis in providing community input concerning continuing infrastructure improvements along Michigan Road by playing a leadership role in the 1997 Michigan Road Corridor Plan.
Publication and distribution of a 4,000 to 5,000 C4 Newsletter, which supports local businesses, keeps residents notified of issues which impact the community and assists in informing residents of C4 activities.
Development of Service Learning opportunities for high school students, Butler and IUPUI students working with faculty in the Crooked Creek Community.
One Service Learning project involved a major survey of residents who live with in 300 feet of the Crooked Creek. The outcome was a seminar, Protecting Your Investment, held to inform residents of stream management practices for the Crooked Creek. Another project involved a student survey about the park project.
Assisted member associations in obtaining City water, sewer. drainage and other infrastructure improvements.
Participated in the Crooked Creek Multi-Service Centers C-fips Planning Study.
Gained support for the community with state and local elected government officials.
Past Achievements
Established Crooked Creek Community/Juan Solomon Park
Expanded Crooked Creek Community/Juan Solomon Park
Improving Crooked Creek Community/Juan Solomon Park
Initiated the development of Crooked Creek Multi-Service Center
Protects the Quality and Integrity of the Crooked Creek
Promotes Tree Preservation and Environmental Protection
Monitors and Advocates Appropriate Land Use
Promotes City Water, Sewer and Drainage in the Community
Advocated Greenspace at Grandview & Michigan Road
Promotes Local Businesses
Crooked Creek Community Council, Inc.
Celebrating 35
Years of Community Service
1967-2002
Crooked Creek Community Council, Inc. (C4) has represented the area surrounding Crooked Creek from 38th Street to 79th Street since 1967. The origin of C4 had its roots as The Olde Michigan Road Council, which was organized on May 18, 1967, with the purpose of preserving and restoring historical landmarks and promoting orderly development and beautification of Michigan Road.
After the loss of key leaders due to death and transfer, the organization was reorganized in 1969 as the Crooked Creek Community Council, Inc., a federation of area neighborhood civic organizations, with the common mission of uniting neighborhoods and improving the quality of life along Michigan Road and the Crooked Creek from West 38th Street to West 86th Street, improving the community, protecting the integrity of Crooked Creek and protecting the area from incompatible uses. C4’s Board of Directors expanded in 1997 to include twelve neighborhood associations, with an area church, and the Crooked Creek Multi-Service Center.
In 1970, C4 applied to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to be recognized as a charitable and educational organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS approved this request on October 14, 1971.
C4’s
initial community perspective was assisted through the
development of a detailed land use plan by hiring Don
Fisher, of D. B. Fisher and Architects, Inc.,
commissioned at a cost of $5,000. The plan, completed in
1972, was instrumental in addressing community
development concerns
by providing continuity throughout the Michigan Road
corridor. This land use plan assisted the community when
considering new development, environmental issues, zoning
issues and traffic pattern concerns.
C4 was instrumental in two projects of which we are particularly proud, specifically the initiation and development of the Crooked Creek Multi-Service Center (CCMSC) and the initiation and development of Crooked Creek Community Juan Solomon Park and the just completed expansion of the park.
Crooked Creek Multi-Service Center
A Community Approach
The 1980 Community Services Council’s Neighborhood Service Study identified the northwest section of Marion County as an emerging area of need for human services. C4 participated in the study. In 1983 and 1984 C4 explored the need for a Multi-Service Center in our community through two grants totaling $9,000 from Self Development of People (S.D.O.P.) grant from the Presbyterian Church USA. These funds were used to organize the neighborhoods in the development of a needs survey. After determining that such a need existed, C4 purchased a building at 6877 Township Line Road which presently houses the Crooked Creek Multi-Service Center. In 1983 C4 received a $25,000 award by the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) credits from contributions from area residents. C4 purchased the multi-service center site by paying $5,000 down and acquiring a $25,000 mortgage. A third grant of $2,500 was received from S.D.O.P. later that year.
A proposal was later made by CCMSC to the Lilly Endowment for $30,000 to pay off the mortgage and initiate needed renovations. The center opened in September, 1985. C4 paid the director’s salary and the cost of a part-time secretary until April, 1987. C4 supported the center’s needs for supplies, maintenance and programming expenses by directly raising and spending over $24,000 on this project.
In May of 1987 Community Centers of Indianapolis, Inc. assumed responsibility for the Crooked Creek Multi-Service Center, which then became a United Way Agency. The center continues to offer much needed services to their constituents in Washington and Pike Townships. CCMSC and C4 have representatives on both Board of Directors, thus continuing the special relationship between the multi-service center and C4.
Crooked
Creek Community
Juan Solomon Park
The need for a community park for the Crooked Creek community became apparent in 1969. On July 15, 1969, C4 began a dialog with the Park Department to address this need. After extensive community involvement, C4 worked tirelessly to address the need for a recreational park for the youth of our community. Several sites were under consideration, with the present location of Juan Solomon Park in Washington Township at 6100 Grandview Drive was agreed upon by the Park Department and the Crooked Creek community.
The initial proposal for the present park site included an additional twenty-two acres of land south of Crooked Creek and adjacent to the park. The Indianapolis Parks Department did not have sufficient funds to secure the additional property at that time. The addition of this adjacent property continued to be a primary goal, as does improvements to the Park.
On July 10, 1975, the Department of Parks and Recreation adopted Special Resolution #13 officially naming the park Juan C. Solomon Park, a Crooked Creek Community Project, recognizing C4 as the driving force behind the development of the park. The Crooked Creek community park was dedicated on September 28, 1975.
Expansion of Crooked Creek Community
Juan Solomon Park
C4 adopted Friends of Juan Solomon Park (FJSP) as a special project to improve and expand the existing park in March, 1994. Our plans included expanding the park by twenty-two acres south of and adjacent to the park. With the creation of the Indianapolis Greenway Project and the need for additional alternative activities for the youth in our community, FJSP promoted a unique alliance of community organizations, private business, not-for-profit organizations and the local government to provide needed recreational opportunities for youth development.
C4’s Juan Solomon Park Phase I (expansion) was a solution based alternative to inappropriate development of this central Indiana riparian corridor. This project is vital to the Crooked Creek Community as a centerpiece of our community. The preservation of this site is important to Washington Township, which has the fewest park acres and park acres to population ratio of any township in the city. This project benefits the entire Indianapolis community by providing conservation, recreation, restoration and protection of native biological diversity within the city limits of Indianapolis, Indiana. This project expands Juan Solomon Park from 23.84 to a total of 45 + acres. This preservation project will be the first leg of the Crooked Creek Greenway segment of the Indianapolis Greenways Plan. This is the first project that the Indiana Heritage Trust (funded by sales of "environment" license plates) has supported in Marion County. FJSP Phase I was awarded the "1996 National Neighborhood of the Year Award" by Neighborhoods USA, which sponsors the only national award recognizing self-help community initiatives. This project also was awarded Indy Parks' "1995 Best Partner Award," third place in A Monumental Affair's "Mayor's 1995 Neighborhood Award," Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center's "1996 Neighborhood Achievement Award," and the Neighborhoods USA's "1996 National Neighborhood of the Year Award." C4's Executive Director Kerry Michael Manders received the (Sagamore of the Wabash) from Gov. Bayh.
The expansion of the park maintains this exceptional natural resource for future generations to enjoy. Additional considerations center on the ecological preservation of Crooked Creek. Inappropriate development would have had a negative environmental impact including increased flooding problems due to rain water run-off, an increase of sediment entering the creek and limiting the options to preserve the Crooked Creek watershed and efforts to decrease flooding. The area included in the expansion of the adjacent park is heavily wooded, encompasses a segment of Crooked Creek, the Crooked Creek water shed, a portion of the flood plain, as well as high lands above the flood plain. This area is heavily populated by various species of wildlife.
FJSP project continued with Phase II (improvements). The goal of raising funds with Indy Parks for improvements was realized in 1999. It created the first leg of the Crooked Creek Greenway, a bridge over Crooked Creek (which was destroyed by erosion in 2003), a scenic overlooks new and improved playgrounds and picnic shelters, resurfacing of the tennis courts and parking lot. Replacement of the bridge is a current concern. C4 is working with the Indy Parks Foundation to accomplish this goal.
Brief History of Juan Solomon
Juan C. Solomon was an employee of Eli Lilly and Company, joining the company in 1941 and rising through the ranks of the corporate structure for thirty-two years. Mr. Solomon held various positions, including Personnel Manager and Community Relations Manager. In 1968, Eli Lilly and Company loaned Mr. Solomon to the City of Indianapolis to organize and lead the Mayor’s Task Force on Employment. Over a three-year period, Mayor Lugar’s Task Force evolved into the Metropolitan Manpower Commission, which was responsible for stimulating the business community to hire the hard-core unemployed. Through five principle programs and two related organizations, Mr. Solomon’s leadership is credited with training and placing over 4,000 culturally deprived men and women in good jobs with a decent wage.
Juan Solomon was the recipient of the "Good American Award" and the "Good Government Award". He was involved in numerous organizations, including the Governor’s Commission for the Handicapped, the Community Service Council, the Indianapolis Urban League, the Marion County Association for Retarded Children, Public Action in Correctional Efforts (PACE), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce as well as an Elder at Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Solomon was a long-time resident of the Crooked Creek community, where his wife, Eloise, still resides.
Additional Activities
Highlights of pro-active community initiatives in which C4 has been directly involved include:
C4 worked with other community based organizations in successfully petitioning the Department of Metropolitan Development to change their policy so that petitioners for land use changes are required to notify registered neighborhood associations of their intentions (1970).
Petitioned for the placement of street lights at Kessler Blvd. & Grandview Drive (1970).
Forced a developer to complete roads in new residential areas at 65th Street & Bettcher Place (1970).
Spearheaded a citizen’s committee for passage of the city’s sign ordinance (1970).
Worked with the Department of Public Works in solving various drainage problems (1970 to present).
Organized a summer Recreation program for community children in conjunction with the Indianapolis Museum of Art and provided transportation and food for youth outings to Eagle Creek Park (1978).
Organized the Crooked Creek Church Council & the Michigan Road Business Association (1979).
Led a community-based initiative to persuade the Department of Metropolitan Development to change the name of Northwestern Ave. to its original historic name of Michigan Road, north of 38th Street, being the oldest north-south highway in Indiana. (1979).
Cosponsored the development of the Michigan Road Corridor Plan with the Department of Metropolitan Development (1987).
Successfully supported the Sheriff’s Dept. funding request (1987).
Publication and distribution of C4’s newsletter to over 3,000 residences, churches and businesses (1988 to present).
Clean Air Award presented to C4 by the Indianapolis Clean Air Committee for initiating a Vehicle Emissions Testing Program and promoting ways to improve air quality (October 27, 1988).
Developed and produced a directory of area businesses (1989).
Participated in the formation of a network of community organizations, now called Marion County Alliance of Neighborhood Associations (1991).
Defeated Shell Service Station’s attempt to secure a license to sell beer(1991).
Organized a community clean-up of Crooked Creek community’s Juan Solomon Park (1992).
Participated in public hearing of the Michigan Road Widening Project (1992).
Formed a Water & Sewer Committee to promote those utilities in the our community (1992).
Formed the Crooked Creek Conservation Committee to address flooding and pollution problems of Crooked Creek. This project initiated a needs assessment and a comprehensive approach to solving these problems in our community through the extensive research of three graduate students of IUPUI’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs program titled Crooked Creek: Problems and Solutions (1993).
Monitored the improvement of the Kessler Blvd./Grandview Drive intersection improvement project, saving a majority of the large white pine trees which were threatened by the project (1993).
Adopted Friends of Juan Solomon Park (FJSP) as a special project to improve and expand the existing community park (1994).
Mediation efforts: successfully mediated a dispute between the FoxHill Apartment complex management and DPW concerning drainage; successfully mediated a dispute between residents and shopping center management, resulting in the paving of Pershing Road; negotiated the zoning of a professional building on Michigan Road; negotiated the conversion of two residences north of the commercial strip to maintain a residential appearance.
Supported a petition by Fairbanks Hospital to use of two homes at 4525 and 4750 Michigan Road as transitional living center for youths recovering from substance abuse; supported handicapped occupied Pauley Glover Apartments; supported Kessler Garden Apartment complex, supported Sycamore School in obtaining a five year lease of the Grandview Elementary School building.
Initiated the creation of a community-base TV program designed
to bring the relevance of neighborhood organizations into the living rooms of the people they serve. "Good Neighbors" is televised on Government Channel 16 in Indianapolis(1995).Completed FJSP Phase I (expansion) by raising $474,000 to expand the park by 22 acres. Phase I was awarded the "1996 National Neighborhood of the Year" Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center's "1996 Neighborhood Achievement Award," third place in A Monumental Affair's "Mayor's 1995 Neighborhood Award" and Indy Parks' "1995 Best Partner Award."
Co-initiated the Community Facilities Infrastructure Planning Study (C-fips) for the creation of the "Crooked Creek Community Campus," a proposed co-location facility of community services. This on-going initiative will create a Crooked Creek Community Library branch, as well as educational and recreational opportunities for the community.
Began FJSP Phase II (improvements) with a $100,000 contribution from the City of Indianapolis (1996).
C4's
Board of Directors meets eleven months a year (no
December meeting), at 6:30pm on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at
Washington Park North Cemetery's Family Center, located
at 2702 Kessler Blvd., West Drive.
If you desire to be placed on the agenda, call C4 at
479-1036 and leave a detailed message. You may also
e-mail to:
jmfranklin16@att.net
To
Contact C4, write to:
Crooked Creek Community Council, Inc.
P.O. Box 68717
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Email:
jmfranklin16@att.net
Phone:
479-1036