Riverside, Indianapolis

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The Riverside neighborhood is historical,and an ecological diamond in the ruff neighborhood on the near westside of Indianapolis, United States. The neighborhood consists mainly of American foursquare type homes and bungalows built in the 1910s-1920s. Seventy-five percent of the homes in the area were built before 1939.^[1] Riverside is so-called such because it is situated next to the White River.

Its boundaries are 30th Street on the north, Fall Creek and Stadium Drive to the south, the Water Company canal on the east, and the White River on the west.^[2] Many of the neighborhood's focus areas are situated along Harding street.

Historically, Riverside has fallen victim to severe challenges. As a result, attempts to revitalize the Riverside neighborhood have become commonplace in recent years. The Riverside neighborhood was a member of the Indianapolis Weed and Seed Organization, an organization that targets deprived areas in Indianapolis to assist crime reduction. Located in its boundaries is the cities only regional park.[5]

The history of Riverside Amusement Park reflects the history of the area. The amusement park was founded in 1903 with funding from investors from Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, north of 30th Street with a toboggan ride and concession stands. As Riverside and the rest of the area grew residentially, the amusement park continued to expand. In 1919, it came under new ownership, which introduced segregation in response to the growing African-American population in the neighborhood. Most days, the park was only available to white patrons, but there were special days set aside for black patrons. The park and the neighborhood both prospered during and after World War II, but the neighborhood was soon affected by dramatic white flight. By the 1960s, the racial makeup of the neighborhood had changed so much that the park owners were forced to desegregate in an attempt to regain financial stability. This failed, and the park closed in 1970. A newly built housing complex-The Rivers Edge sits in its place.^[3]

Since 1967, Riverside has been included in the umbrella neighborhood organization known as UNWA, or the United Northwest Area. It is made up of three neighborhoods: Riverside to the south, United Northwest in the center, and Crown Hill to the north. The UNWA neighborhood is bounded by Meridian Street to the east, 38th Street to the north, 16th Street to the south, and the White River to the west. UNWA’s population in 1990 was 22,204. ^[4]The success of this neighborhood is rooted in its grassroots neighborhood association - the Riverside Civic League-the second oldest neighborhood association in the City. Contacts: www.exploreRiverside.org or rclinc@yahoo.com.

K-6 students in the Riverside neighborhood are zoned to Indianapolis Public Schools 42 and 44.