If you are looking for a fun, free and welcoming place to explore in downtown Indianapolis, stop by Monument Circle to check out the return of SPARK on the Circle. Located on the northwest quadrant on the brick streets between the monument and sidewalk, visitors can enjoy free games, music, shade, food and drink and community starting at 11:00 a.m. until dusk, according to circlespark.org.
SPARK on the Circle is the result of a partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission, according to its website. Brandon Schaaf, an employee of Big Car Collaborative, said the goal is to cultivate lively energy and positive experiences for downtown residents and visitors. The environment attracts many tourists and creates a sense of community for the Indianapolis region, Schaaf said.
After the success of the 2023 season with over 78,000 visitors and 251 programming opportunities, according to FOX59, the public space has made its return for 2024 with extended hours and more intentional programming with the intention of being mindful of investments in public spaces and residents through the Downtown Resiliency Strategy, said Administrator of Programming and Public Use for the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development Iris Dillon in an interview with FOX59.
However, not everyone was a fan of SPARK, as witnessed by former Republican Indianapolis Mayoral Candidate Jefferson Shreve whose major campaign point was to disband SPARK. In his campaign, he cited complaints and issues that businesses on the circle were facing, as well as a stop to the flow of traffic on the circle.
On the other hand, last year’s high numbers and engagement from show how people of a variety of backgrounds, interests and ages were drawn together in the heart of the city, according to Big Car Co-founder and Executive Director Jim Walker in a press release from Downtown Indy.
“A lot of people come through who are from out of town or out of the country,” Schaaf said. “They just head straight to the circle, not knowing what they were going to find. Then they land on this, and then have a great time and, like, hang out here for hours.”
There is something for everybody to get involved with, Schaaf said, especially due to a lack of traffic since the area is blocked off.. Walking freely through Monument Circle is especially great this time of year, Schaaf said, and the live events cater to the social environment by closing parts of the circle for pedestrians only, pending demand.
“On Wednesdays, there’s Lunch Break Live, that’s like live music from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.,” Schaaf said. “There’s also the farmers market here on Wednesdays. That’s a fun day, because three quarters of the circle is pedestrian only … there’s artist workshops, too, where artists will come and set up and run a workshop.”
AJ Walterman, a local employee on his lunch break, said he enjoys walking down to SPARK because of the social aspect, but also because it is peaceful during his free hour. He said he encourages the city to keep up spaces like SPARK during times of the year when the weather is most enjoyable.
“I just think it’s a good spot for everyone to come and hang out, whether it’s with friends or family,” Walterman said. “This would be a good spot if you were looking to meet people too. It might be a little bit more difficult once it gets cold, but at least during the summer and fall times, I think it’s great.”
Schaaf encourages college students to take advantage of the opportunities SPARK offers, such as meeting other students, artistic freedom and mindfulness. The public space that SPARK uses works to ensure accessibility for everyone, eliminating any physical or financial barriers within its community.
“It kind of has its own little community too,” Schaaf said. “Especially when Spark is full of people, there’s a nice, like, playful vibe. Everybody’s having conversations, trying new things, playing games and stuff. It’s really fun.”
SPARK goes through October, according to FOX59, with a modified version after Nov. 3 to complement downtown Indianapolis’ seasonal Circle of Lights and festive programming every Saturday and Sunday.
