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feature story
Helping Indianapolis Be a Better Place to Live , Work , and Visit
“ Plan 2020 wanted to be able to measure if neighborhoods across the city were improving as a result [ of its efforts ]. IndyVitals is intended to help answer that question , while also improving the coordination of all those in the private , public , nonprofit , and philanthropic sectors [ who are ] working at the neighborhood level to make investments that are most relevant to the diverse needs of neighborhoods across our city .”
— Brooke Thomas Deputy Director and Plan 2020 Co-Manager , the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee
Throughout its history , Indianapolis has valued planning . The practice began with Alexander Ralston ’ s design for Indiana ’ s capital city in the early 1820s . It continues today with Plan 2020 , the most recent of a long series of community efforts to ensure that the city remains vital and vibrant as it enters its third century .
In anticipation of the 200th anniversary of Indianapolis ’ founding , Plan 2020 organizers sought a different format for the planning effort , one that sought to include voices from all parts of the community to ensure that Indianapolis remains relevant , appealing , and a destination of choice .
To make the planning process more relevant and inclusive — and to break down the siloes that kept zoning , land use , transportation , parks , and neighborhood planning separated — plan collaborators used a “ quality of life ” model as their guide . The result was the Plan 2020 initiative , a collaboration between the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee , the Department of Metropolitan Development , the Department of Public Works , the Indy Chamber , and community leaders .
“ Plan 2020 is the name of the Bicentennial Planning process for Indianapolis and Marion County that involves the creation of a broad , values-
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