White River State Park is an urban park in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Situated along the eastern and western banks of its namesake White River, the park covers 267 acres (108 ha).

Venue: White River State Park
Town: Indiana, US

White River State Park is an urban park in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Situated along the eastern and western banks of its namesake White River, the park covers 267 acres (108 ha). The park is home to numerous attractions, including the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Indiana State Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo, the NCAA Hall of Champions, Victory Field, Everwise Amphitheater, and White River Gardens. The park and Downtown Canal comprise one of the city's official cultural districts, designated as Canal and White River State Park. Initial plans for the park were conceived by civic leaders in the late 1970s to capitalize on the city's amateur sports economic development strategy. Bipartisan support from state legislators and seed money from corporate partners led to the organization of a quasi-governmental commission to oversee the park's planning and operations. Construction began in the 1980s with the acquisition and clearing of blighted industrial properties and the realignment of Washington Street for redevelopment. Restoration of this area began in the late 1980s when public attention fell on the Indiana Central Canal corridor. The canal was originally engineered in the 1830s as a way to ship goods through the state of Indiana, but the project, as governed by the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, went bankrupt and the Indianapolis section of the canal was the only section that was ever dug. Although the canal was never used for its intended purpose, recent restoration and redevelopment have allowed the area to function as a cultural center within the city. In 1980, architect César Pelli's Indiana Tower was proposed as the park's focal point; however, the 750-foot (229 m) observation tower was never constructed due to funding concerns and public criticism of the tower's design. Since, several proposed attractions have been considered, including an Indiana African American History Museum, seasonal ice skating rin