A beach along the White River? It could happen

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Visit Indy tourism group has announced a plan to add attractions and visitors to the downtown riverfront by 2025.

Visit Indy officials said they’d like to see parts of the White River lined with restaurants, cafes, hotels and possibly even a beach. Over the next year, the group will meet with the mayor and other community leaders to discuss the ideas and explore ways the plan can work.

If the plan becomes a reality, tourism leaders said it will not happen quickly.

“It’s a lofty goal, but one that we know Indianapolis can put on its books,” Visit Indy spokesman Chris Gahl said.

Gahl said in 2015, Visit Indy surveyed more than 3,000 people across Indiana and found that people are attracted to water.

Andrea Yovanovich is an Indianapolis local who didn’t take the survey, but she did offer some insight Monday.

She said she’d like to see more concerts, wine tastings, pub crawls and outdoor ice skating.

As for a beach?

“A beach? I’m not sure about a beach in downtown Indianapolis,” Yovanovich said with a laugh.

But tourism leaders say Paris built riverfront beaches and so can Indianapolis. Gahl also pointed to San Antonio, Texas as an example of a city that turned their riverfront into a tourism attraction.

“I just never thought about the White River as the place to be,” Yovanovich said.

Gahl said water cleanliness is paramount to the plan. Visit Indy will be meeting with environmental groups to study water conditions and levels.

Some of the downtown land along the river is owned by the state or city and some of the land is private.

If the plan becomes a reality, Andy Corkhill said he still won’t be going in the water. He’s an Australian who’s visiting Indianapolis this week.

“Look at this weather,” Corkhill said. “I’m from Sydney. There’s no way you’d see me on a beach around here.”