In my battle to get this project noticed and funded, I am up against one terrible foe.
It is a pretty boring subject that doesn’t lend itself to a lot of glitz, and since it is an environmental project (which is a pretty crowded field, full of smart people doing important things) it faces addition headwinds of limited funding being available and there being lots of competition for that funding.
So we are going to approach this differently, and pitch it just as a business solution to solve multiple problems that the big players face. Maybe one of them will run with it.
Todays example involves the city of Indianapolis and its development of along the White River on the SW corner of downtown.
For people outside of my fair city, The White River is a small, non navigable river that runs catty corner across Indiana, and it intersects with the southwest corner of downtown Indianapolis basically where US 40 aka Washington Street enters and exits the city on the west side. It is a high dollar per square foot area that is being developed rapidly. The tourist and convention traffic is huge.
There is one problem though, the water quality in the area is of a legendary filth.
No one is trying to be in the water of white river in Downtown Indianapolis. Since I don’t have to explain the value of a clean river for waterfront property in a big money development, I will just turn the sales pitch over to my trusty robot friend.
The White River and Fall Creek confluence near Indianapolis has long been a challenging site for development and maintenance, given its designation as a floodplain. Currently, this area requires ongoing maintenance without providing much return in terms of functionality or public use. However, it holds untapped potential to become an innovative solution to two pressing urban challenges: improving water quality and supporting tree planting initiatives. By developing a tree-centric landscaping nursery at this site, dubbed the River Refugium Project (RRP), Indianapolis can address water pollution, provide resources for green development, and create economic opportunities in an underutilized space.
One of the primary advantages of the RRP would be its contribution to erosion control and water quality improvement. The confluence of the White River and Fall Creek is a natural collection point for urban runoff and pollutants, impacting water quality throughout the city. Establishing a nursery and garden infrastructure designed to naturally filter and clean water through bioengineered wetlands and tree root systems would not only improve water quality but also mitigate flooding and erosion. Clean, well-managed waterways would unlock the potential for downtown development and recreational tourism, revitalizing the riverfront and contributing to a healthier urban ecosystem.
For more information on how to fix Dead Zones in the Gulf of Mexico and the mouth of other rivers, follow this link –>
The tree nursery would support Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) and their efforts to plant more trees across the city. By growing trees directly on-site using clean, treated river water, KIB could source their trees at a significantly reduced cost, enabling the organization to plant more annually and maintain a healthy urban canopy. This initiative would also produce vital data for local universities and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), providing insight into effective natural water filtration and the performance of specific plant species in controlling urban water quality and soil health.
Another essential benefit would be the economic impact on the Near Northside neighborhood, where the nursery would provide jobs close to local universities and medical facilities. The site could serve as a valuable community asset, creating employment opportunities in green infrastructure, research, and landscape management. Moreover, this project would benefit local florists serving the 5 Hospitals and numerous medical centers in walking distance of this site by supplying fresh, locally grown plants and flowers. With hospitals relying on floral arrangements for patient care and aesthetics, a nearby source would reduce costs and enhance the sustainability of floral services.
To bring this vision to life, the River Refugium Project needs public and private support. By participating in our “Sponsor a Page” program, you can contribute to cleaner water, greener cityscapes, and economic revitalization. Fully funding our grant request would allow us to expand this model and collaborate with local municipalities to replicate similar projects, transforming more underutilized floodplains into thriving, multi-benefit landscapes. Supporting the RRP is an investment in Indianapolis’ future—combining ecological health, urban development, and community well-being.
Whew. I hope that makes it more interesting. HAHAHA.
Anyway, now that I am speaking directly again instead of through my “make him a professional” machine, I want to note a couple of things.
First off I do not want to displace any current business in this process. For instance, I would want to offer whoever is currently supplying kib trees the opportunity to manage it (if kib didn’t want to take it over themselves). I am interested in getting these projects developed. For me, the business aspect is a biproduct of the real value.
The other is that I should say my robot made it sound like all of this was in place. The opposite is true. All I have is plan. I have ZERO connection to any of the organizations mentioned in this article other than thinking they would be good partners in a system like this. The thing is, with funding and all the local permissions, a plan like this could grow into a very profitable venture with no visible downside. Oh wait, the bigger thing is that I could make a version of this this work in any city in the world that has a dirty waterway. So anywhere.
Who wants their dirty river fixed?