White River State Park
White River State Park is an urban park in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Situated along the eastern and western banks of its namesake White River, the park covers . Initial plans for the park were conceived by civic leaders in the late-1970s to capitalize on the city's amateur sports economic development strategy. Bipartisan support from state legislators and seed money from corporate partners led to the organization of a quasi-governmental commission to oversee planning and operations for the park. Construction began in the 1980s with the acquisition and clearing of blighted industrial properties and realignment of  Washington Street for redevelopment. Notable attractions located in the park include the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Zoo, Medal of Honor Memorial, NCAA Hall of Champions, Victory Field, and White River Gardens. The park and accompanying Indianapolis Canal Walk comprise one of seven designated cultural districts. History. White River State Park is an urban park in Indianapolis and is not part of the 32 properties managed by the Division of State Parks, a land management team within the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Restoration on this area began in the late 1980s, when  public attention fell on the Indiana Central Canal. The canal was originally engineered in the 1830s as a way to ship goods through the state of Indiana, but the project, as governed by the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, went bankrupt and the Indianapolis section of the canal was the only section that was ever dug. Although the canal was never used for its intended purpose, recent restoration and development has allowed the area to function as a cultural center within the city. One of the proposed focal points of the park, Indiana Tower, was never constructed. White River State