Mass Ave Indy Annual Report – 2025 – Mass Ave Cultural Arts District

Mass Ave Indy continues to thrive as a vibrant cultural arts district in downtown Indianapolis. In 2025, we deepened our commitment to arts, placemaking, historic preservation, walkability, equity, and community engagement. This report highlights key events, initiatives, and impacts from the past year.

Mass Ave Indy Rooftop Social – Performer Allison Victoria

Rooftop Community Socials

Held twice a year, Rooftop Community Socials are vibrant evenings of connection and celebration. Residents, donors, volunteers, and local business owners come together to mix and mingle while enjoying complimentary bites and drinks, live music, and breathtaking views of Mass Ave from the Marietta Building rooftop. In 2025, Mass Ave welcomed over 85 community members to these memorable gatherings!

Volunteers gather outside the Mass Ave Indy community room at 342 Mass Ave

Clean & Green Activities

Mass Ave’s beauty is powered by community. Over 110 dedicated volunteers and flowerbed sponsors work year-round to keep the avenue blooming. With 52 flowerbeds to weed, mulch, and plant, these volunteers stay busy—and their efforts make a visible impact. Their commitment helps create a welcoming, colorful streetscape that reflects the spirit of the neighborhood.

Mass Ave Summerfest

A day of festivities on Saturday, July 19

Summerfest was a celebration of community, creativity, and local pride! Attendees explored the Mass Ave Mile sidewalk sale, joined a History Walking Tour, enjoyed live outdoor music, and browsed over 35 local maker booths at the Summerfest Block Party—making it the perfect event for families visiting for the WNBBA All-Star Game.

While thunderstorms brought the festivities to an early close, the turnout was still fantastic! Thanks to the Firefighters Union for generously loaning their stage, and to Cunningham Restaurant Group for sponsoring an incredible music lineup produced by Ear Candi Group. Volunteers kept the energy flowing with a free golf-cart shuttle, which was a hit with sidewalk shoppers. Many local makers were able to take home extra revenue, despite the weather.

Mass Ave Indy Phone App Launched in 2025

2025: A Digital Debut at Mass Ave Summerfest

Mass Ave Summerfest 2025 marked the launch of a brand-new phone app designed to enhance the festival experience. One of its standout features was a treasure hunt during the sidewalk sale: participants who visited five or more merchants and scanned their QR codes were entered into a drawing for a free overnight stay at Bottleworks Hotel.

The app also offered an interactive district map and real-time details about Summerfest activities. Since its debut, Mass Ave has continued to update the app’s events and news sections, keeping the community informed and engaged. Another treasure hunt is already scheduled for the Late Nite Shopper event in November, promising more fun and local exploration. Download the Mass Ave Phone App

The city is using Mass Ave as a demonstration project to test the effectiveness of geofenced scooter parking areas. Scooter parking companies are required to designate the painted areas as the only place you can park a scooter on Mass Ave, otherwise the scooter meter will not turn off. This will apply on Mass Ave two-blocks wide from New York Street to Bellefontaine Street.

Scooter Parking Demonstration Program on Mass Ave

THE BENEFITS OF SCOOTER PARKING

Safe and designated parking encourages more users to choose micro-mobility options, improving access to businesses, residences, the Cultural Trail, bus stops and parking garages along Mass Ave

Scooter parking minimizes sidewalk clutter, making the sidewalks safer, maintaining ADA access and pedestrian safety

This demonstration project allows the City to collect usage data, helping it optimize parking locations, capacity, and policies for future expansion

Safe use of electric scooters reduces emissions from vehicles and contributes to THRIVE Indianapolis sustainability goals

Enhances connectivity to and from the transit center, parking garages and downtown convention sites, making Mass Ave more convenient to access without a personal vehicle