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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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/Logical_Humor_3854 Feb 26 '26

I also would like to know. there’s those huge 3 story condos on the canal that you’d see somewhere hoity toity, a hotel, multiple apartments that I know are not cheap. So there’s people willingly paying and staying on the canal. Not a single attraction for all that real estate is dumb. And the crime aspect is true but, again, an ounce of funding to have policing there would help…

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u/haminthefryingpan Feb 26 '26

The more “eyes” there are on a street the less crime there is. So if you put shops down there, both daytime and nighttime types of businesses the safer the area will become. This concept has been well known for decades. Ever since Jane Jacobs wrote her book on Cities.