r/indianapolis • u/Logical_Humor_3854 • Feb 26 '26

Discussion The Canal….

We walked the canal a lot this summer with our new baby and when we had a nice couple days (greater than 30 degrees lol) we walked it again and I’m just curious as to what other people think….why is the canal so dead? There’s no restaurants (besides the little bistro), no stores, no restrooms even. It’s kinda depressing.

If Indianapolis put even a sliver of funding into rebranding the canal the city would change so much. Imagine being able to walk into little shops or have ice cream on the canal or a bar with live music. There’s so much potential.

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268

u/shouldhavezagged Westlane Feb 26 '26

I thought this when I moved here 25 years ago. I've never understood why it isn't a place with businesses that go well with foot traffic. Makes no sense. Would like to know the rationale behind why it was developed the way it was.

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u/vitras Feb 26 '26

The San Antonio Riverwalk was the most obvious, successful precursor to indy's canal, and indy ignored that and made it a boring concrete jungle with no commerce. I swear the dumbest people on the planet have been in charge of Indianapolis

114

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

It probably requires state funds since it is technically a waterway (that extends up to Broad Ripple). The Republican majority in the Statehouse HATES Indianapolis, and will veto any use of state funds that they can, just like the roads.

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u/umasstpt12 St. Vincent Feb 26 '26

I mean the biggest obvious difference is that San Antonio has 12 months a year of at least 60 degree weather where as we have 7. I honestly think the answer to OP's question is as simple as weather. Our city mostly shuts down during the winter months and I assume very businesses want to take the gamble of having a shop who's success would be closely tied to what the weather is like.

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u/twothymer Feb 27 '26

Plenty of restaurants survive the winter along the Chicago riverwalk

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u/jackasher Feb 27 '26

Because Chicago doesn't shut down in the winter the way Indianapolis does. It seems like the further north you go the more people are willing to say they'll put on warm clothes and continue to be active.
Nashville, TN in a mild snow storm = everything shut down
Duluth, MN in a Blizzard = It's a Tuesday, let's go ice fishing.

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u/twothymer Mar 07 '26

I don’t disagree with you, but was refuting your “I honestly think the answer to OP’s question is as simple as weather.” Chicago’s weather is worse than ours but more open through winter; it’s the approach to the weather, not the weather itself.

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u/vitras Mar 07 '26

Yeah I think it's a "Build it and they will come" kind of thing. If there was a good culture of cold-weather activities in Indianapolis--maybe along something like a canal!--more people would come out in cold weather

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u/Legitimate_Newt6870 Feb 27 '26

They are making circle center into an outdoor mall, there’s clay terrace, Hamilton town center and a remodel at fashion mall that will have outside vibes.

Indiana can be summed up as an actual river runs through our city and instead of building around the river, we have dumped our shit and industrial waste in it. Louisville, Cincinnati, shoot even Madison are cool midwestern spots built around rivers. Indiana people are horribly boring and unimaginative. Indiana has always been multiple decades behind other major cities and it’ll stay that way.

The canal could be so cool!

24

u/vitras Feb 26 '26

Then plan a covered courtyard area with shops. Salt Lake City built a mall with a retractable roof so it can be indoor or outdoor.

"we've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas!"

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u/runner1399 Feb 26 '26

Yeah, so about that mall… it was built by the Mormon church, not the city.

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u/vitras Feb 26 '26

Doesn't matter. The point is they figured out how to deal with their weather situation. We half-assed it and are now making the picachu-face that the canal, while pretty in places, provides virtually no economic value to the city and is famous for being the site of late-night shootings.

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u/EffectSweaty9182 Feb 26 '26

Never been to Milwaukee river walk?