The People's Garden Peace Pole: Indianapolis
Posted by: 
Muirwoody
N 39° 46.950 W 086° 07.283
16S E 575236 N 4403986
A Peace Pole from 1995 in a struggling neighborhood in Indianapolis
Waymark Code: WM6F1
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 01/23/2006
Views: 41
May we learn the way to care,
May we have enough to share
With all people, everywhere.
May we know each others' worth,
And may peace prevail on earth.
"Song of the Earth" by Giona Nissensonf and C.C. Couch was the opening music and theme song for the afternoon of June 8, 1995, when the People's Garden at 11th and Keystone became the recipient of an award given around the world.
A "Peace Pole" was dedicated on that overcast Saturday in front of a small crowd gathered at the garden.
The People's Garden isn't big. It sits on what used to be a vacant lot and has been divided up into twenty 9' x 11' gardens. The spaces are free for anyone to use to plant flowers and vegetables. All the little gardens were looking good the day of the dedication. Several were lush with lettuces and early-producing vegetables. Many others plants were just beginning to break through the wet ground.
During the ceremony, children and adults were given the opportunity to write their wishes on pieces of paper, hopes and prayers for a better understanding between people and a peaceful community. After the dedication of the Peace Pole by Andy Jacobs, Jr., Mrs. Ethel Kemp and Larry Kahl helped the children place those prayers inside the plastic bag in which the pole was shipped. The bag was put inside the hollow Peace Pole, which was later permanently set in cement.
The America the Beautiful Fund had been given 200 Peace Poles from the North America Peace Pole Project to award, and Indianapolis was fortunate to become one of the recipients.
1/23/2006: The words above and the photo below are from 1995. Dedication Page The gallery shows the site today - the sign is gone and the grounds look overgrown, but maybe that's just winter. The Peace Pole seems to be in excellent shape.
