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Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood growing stronger by connecting residents

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood is working to become one of the great places within the city of Indianapolis.

“Martindale-Brightwood did not have a community center and we thought that was very necessary,” Event Organizer Gina Lewis Alexander said.

So the neighborhood got a new heartbeat, called 37 Place.

“Nursery services, daycare services, and they do also operate an after school program,” Martindale-Brightwood Community Builder Gina Fears said.

It was created just a few years ago from former IPS school 37, a historic building for the area.

“A lot of individuals that grew up in the Martindale-Brightwood area did attend elementary school there so they kept the name 37 Place,” Fears said.

Now it serves as the community center.

“It has made us feel a little bit more prideful that we have a neighborhood that has a community center,” Lewis Alexander said, “It’s allowed us to have a meeting place to come and gather to discuss community issues.”

But it’s run by a charitable organization and relies on donor support.

That’s where events like Friday’s Indy 500 themed porch party come into play.

“We just want to be here to say thank you and know that it’ll do something towards the cause,” Fears said.

Various neighborhood-based organizations came together to host a kids animal show.

They also had tables with resources for families.

“We want to make sure that the people in the neighborhood are connected to the resources that are available as well as just a time of fun,” Lewis Alexander said.

Events like this take place monthly and are all part of the plan to make the community more connected and improve residents’ quality of life.

“So many times when you look at the city people are readily identifying what’s not right and we just want to identify what’s good and what’s working,” Lewis Alexander said.

For more information on 37 Place, click here.