Harry Cramer Green Space opens in Marion

Editors note: this post has been edited due to a misspelled name

The Harry Cramer Green Space officially opened in Marion on Thursday, marking the culmination of a five-year effort to transform a blighted lot into a public park for the community.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park, located at 21st and Brownlee, drew a crowd of city officials, community members, and local leaders, all gathered to celebrate the new green space.

The project was made possible through a five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), awarded to the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) as part of a broader initiative to improve community conditions and prevent violence.

Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell Jr. said the transformation of the space represents a significant achievement for the city.

“My favorite thing about this project is that it took a space that was once blighted and harmful to the community and turned it into something that is beautiful and helpful,” Morrell said.

He also said that the project not only provides a recreational space for children and families, but also addresses a key goal of his administration by eliminating blight in the city.

“This green space not only provides a place for kids to play, but it also helps reduce domestic violence by creating a positive environment,” Morrell said.

The project began in January and has since evolved into a collaborative effort involving local organizations, city officials, and community residents.

Hands of Hope, a local organization dedicated to preventing domestic violence, played a role in organizing the project at the local level.

Linda Wilk, director of Hands of Hope, said how important the community input was in shaping the green space.

“We did research in the neighborhood to see what the residents wanted, and this green space is the result of those conversations,” said Wilk.

She also said that the project’s goal was to create a place where neighbors could gather, feel safe and build stronger connections.

Colleen Yeakle, the evaluation director for the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the project lead for the CDC grant, echoed this idea by saying how important it is to create strong communities.

“We want to create communities that are supported and connected, where neighbors know each other and care about each other, we hold each other accountable when we get it wrong, and we support each other through hard times,” Yeakle said.

Yeakle said that strategies like green spaces are considered best practices for preventing not only domestic violence but also child abuse and suicide.

President and CEO of Greater Grant County Kylie Jackson said she is excited about the project’s completion and the impact it will have on the neighborhood.

“It’s really exciting being able to be part of the celebration because we did the groundbreaking too, and to see the transformation from there has been awesome,” Jackson said.

She said that projects like this can improve the neighborhood’s overall environment by turning a once vacant and neglected space into something valuable for the community.

“When you take a blighted, empty city lot and turn it into something beautiful like this, the self-esteem of the neighborhood is raised,” Jackson said.

The park, named after Harry Cramer, a veteran who was active in the neighborhood, features a variety of amenities, including walking paths, raised garden beds and playground equipment.

Marion resident John Filburn, whose wife is vice president of the project, said the family-friendly nature of the park is one of its most important qualities.

“The kids are over there playing; it’s very family-oriented,” Filburn said.”It takes away the blight that was there, makes the community look nicer, and brings the families together.”

Mayor Morrell, along with other local leaders, said they have hope that the park will continue to serve as a positive space for residents to gather and enjoy.

“Anytime the community gets together to rejoice over something, it always brings joy to my heart,” Morrell said. 

After the ribbon cutting ceremony was over, local leaders announced that the Harry Cramer Green Space is officially open to the public.