Indianapolis, Indiana – Every park in Indianapolis has a story. Whether it’s a green space that honors a local hero, a historic figure, or a literary legend, Indy Parks names its public spaces with intention and meaning. Across the city, parks named after writers and changemakers remind residents that history isn’t confined to textbooks — it lives in the places where people gather, play, and reflect.
Among the city’s most thoughtfully named parks are four that celebrate influential authors and visionaries: Dan Wakefield Park, Mari Evans Park, Hawthorne Park, and Frederick Douglass Park. Each park bears the name of someone whose words shaped minds and whose lives helped define the moral and cultural identity of both Indianapolis and the nation.
Dan Wakefield Park – Honoring a Hometown Storyteller
In the heart of Broad Ripple, at the intersection of 61st Street and Broadway Street, stands Dan Wakefield Park, a tribute to one of Indianapolis’ most beloved writers. The park was first established in 1928 under the name Broadway & 61st Street Park. Nearly a century later, in 2016, it was renamed to honor Dan Wakefield, an Indianapolis native whose storytelling captured the essence of the American experience.
Wakefield’s writing career began at Shortridge High School, only a short drive from the park. As a teenager, he contributed to the school newspaper and developed a passion for observing and documenting the world around him. Over the decades that followed, he became known for his novels, essays, and nonfiction works exploring spirituality, human connection, and social change.
His best-known books, Going All the Way and Starting Over, both became films, with Wakefield himself writing the screenplay for Going All the Way. He also created the story for the television show James at 15, further proving his versatility as a storyteller.
Wakefield was admired not only for his writing but also for his generosity and humanity. He lived by the quote from the philosopher Philo: “Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a great battle.” After decades of living and writing across the country, he returned to Indianapolis permanently in 2011. When the park bearing his name was dedicated in 2016, more than 100 people gathered to celebrate him.
Dan Wakefield passed away in 2024 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire. The park that now carries his name stands as a living tribute to his creativity and compassion — a quiet reminder that storytelling can connect a city across generations.
Mari Evans Park – A Voice for Justice and Truth
Not far away, in the Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood, Mari Evans Park honors another literary giant — a poet, activist, and one of the most powerful voices of the 20th century.
Born in Ohio in 1923, Mari Evans originally pursued careers in fashion design and jazz before discovering her passion for writing. She moved to Indianapolis in 1947, making the city her lifelong home. Over the years, she became known as a central figure in the Black Arts Movement, using her words to challenge injustice and elevate the voices of Black Americans.
Her work was deeply rooted in themes of racial identity, equality, and resilience. As a writer-in-residence at Indiana University, Evans inspired countless young writers while also helping establish the university’s Black Student Union. She was never afraid to confront difficult truths — whether addressing racism, prison reform, or gender inequality.
Among her many achievements, Evans produced the television documentary The Black Experience, and authored influential works such as J.D., Singing Black, and her celebrated poem I Am a Black Woman.
Mari Evans passed away in 2017, but her influence endures throughout Indianapolis. A striking 30-foot mural on Massachusetts Avenue bears her likeness, symbolizing her lasting presence in the city she called home. Her park — small, serene, and full of character — mirrors the courage and creativity that defined her life.
Hawthorne Park – A Nod to American Literary History
On the city’s near west side lies Hawthorne Park, established in 1923, one of Indianapolis’ oldest recreational spaces. The park’s name pays homage to Nathaniel Hawthorne, the 19th-century American author whose works still appear on school reading lists today.
Hawthorne, born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1804, was deeply influenced by his Puritan heritage and the moral complexities of his hometown’s infamous witch trials. His writing explored sin, guilt, and redemption — themes that defined many of his stories and novels.
His early collection Twice-Told Tales earned him attention, but it was The Scarlet Letter that secured his place in literary history. The novel’s depiction of societal judgment and personal conscience continues to resonate with readers nearly two centuries later.
Though Hawthorne himself never lived in Indiana, the city’s decision to name a park after him reflects a broader appreciation for writers whose works illuminate universal human struggles. In a community that values both reflection and recreation, Hawthorne Park stands as a place where literature and leisure meet.
Frederick Douglass Park – A Legacy of Strength and Freedom
Perhaps the most historically significant of all is Frederick Douglass Park, located in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. Established in 1921, this park represents not just a tribute to an extraordinary man but also a symbol of resilience and progress for Indianapolis’ Black community.
The park was named for Frederick Douglass, the renowned abolitionist, writer, and orator who escaped slavery and became one of the most influential voices of the 19th century. Born in Maryland in 1818, Douglass was taught the basics of reading by his enslaver’s wife — an act forbidden by law. Determined to educate himself, he continued learning secretly and eventually escaped bondage in 1838.
As a free man, Douglass became a leader in the fight for abolition, traveling across the United States and Europe to deliver powerful speeches about freedom, justice, and equality. His 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, remains a cornerstone of American literature and an essential record of the struggle against slavery.
Douglass also founded several abolitionist newspapers, including The North Star, which carried the motto: “Right is of no Sex – Truth is of no Color – God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren.”
Martindale-Brightwood, where the park is located, was once a segregated Black community in Indianapolis. During the early 20th century, when many city parks excluded Black residents, Frederick Douglass Park became a vital gathering place — a safe space for recreation, celebration, and unity.
Today, the park remains one of Indy’s cultural treasures. It continues to host events, youth programs, and community activities that honor Douglass’s enduring message of empowerment and equality.
More Than Names on Signs
The names of Indy Parks tell a story — not just of the individuals they honor, but of the values Indianapolis holds dear. From Dan Wakefield’s empathy and storytelling, to Mari Evans’s courage and activism, to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s moral insight, and Frederick Douglass’s unyielding pursuit of justice, each park embodies a different aspect of what it means to live with purpose.
Every time a child runs across a field at Douglass Park, or a family picnics beneath the trees in Broad Ripple, they are connected — perhaps unknowingly — to the legacy of people who changed the way we think, speak, and write about the world.
In Indianapolis, these parks are more than places to play or relax. They are living pages in a much larger story — one that continues to grow with every new generation that walks their paths.
