Sargent Road Association - 2024 Year-End Reports
Land Use: SRA was founded based on a need for area residents to advocate to prevent unwise development that would adversely impact the natural character of the valley and the quality of life for existing residents. Since 1993, this advocacy has successfully protected our beloved valley.
Accordingly, we actively monitor applications for zoning variances or changes of designation. If you have questions or concerns about a notice you received from a property owner who has submitted a petition for a property near your home, please contact us.
For non-compliance with zoning regulations: if neighborly efforts have not succeeded in addressing your concerns and you feel there may be a violation of zoning statutes, you can contact the Mayor’s Action Center (317.327.4622), District 4 City County Councilor, Nick Roberts (Nicholas.Roberts@indy.gov), or us at the above location on our website.
Especially in the event of an issue affecting multiple property owners, we are happy to become involved at your request.
There were only minor issues, and the SRA Board took no formal actions regarding zoning issues in 2024.
Infrastructure: We hear you, Sargent Road Resurfacing is the most frequent concern we hear voiced. The city has finally informed us that the engineering/design has progressed to the point of having a public meeting to provide details and get feedback. They haven't offered dates yet, but we continue to communicate with the DPW and Councillor Roberts so look for a separate email on that.
Litterbusters: Litterbusters continued its multi-decade effort in 2024, highlighted by a great turnout and wonderful weather for the Spring Cleanup on April 20th! THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!!! Your SRA membership supports this program, paying for additional supplies and safety patrols during the organized cleanup. Thank you for being an SRA member!
We also enjoy support from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc., the citywide Keep America Beautiful affiliate that provides supplies and a dumpster for the annual cleanup event each spring. Our official KIB “block,” the entire length of Sargent Road from Fall Creek Road to 96th Street, is the longest in Indianapolis, at 3.7 miles! In 2024, SRA, under the leadership of Tonya Rave, received a “Golden Litter Grabber” award and recognition for performing at the top level (Level 1) of KIB standards! (Tonya finished her term with SRA in 2024. If you see her, please let her know that you appreciate her time as an SRA volunteer!)
If you haven’t done so before, consider joining your neighbors for this day of cleanup for the Sargent Road Area. Year after year, it is reported to be a favorite volunteer experience and a chance to meet neighbors. In the meantime, if you see a litter issue that you are unable to address (for any reason), or would like to join us in our efforts, please contact us or visit the LitterBusters Page.
S.T.O.P.: Patrols were contracted in “Blocks” of 1 week, each having 3 shifts of 3 hours each (9 hours). The cost in 2024 increased from $45 to $50 per hour (or $150 per shift, $450 per block). SRA members supported 64 hours of patrols for $3,200.
Note: due to the high number of traffic incidents at 82nd Street and Sargent Road, the SRA Board requested ½ of all patrol hours be focused on that Area. The other 32 hours were evenly distributed between Sargent Road and the 86th Street intersection.
In 2024, traffic stops averaged 2.6 per hour (vs. 1.7 per hour in 2023), and average top speeds per Block were 63.6 MPH (82nd St), 50.5 MPH (82nd St), 65 MPH (86th St).
Members voted to spend $3,000 from the general fund to support S.T.O.P. in 2025. Of course, Targeted Donations from individuals may increase that amount. Monthly reports will continue to be posted here.
Beautification: Sargent Rd-82nd St intersection and the Sargent Road Nature House have been looking well loved! These areas are greatly improved since before SRA volunteers got involved, many thanks to you, keep up the good work!
Sargent Road Nature House: Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Nature House open house on the 15th and all the kind words of appreciation and feedback. In coordination with the Mud Creek Conservancy, we will have another open house on Sunday, October 20th from 1:00-4:00 with walking access to or from the Sargent Road Nature Park (this is for announced times only, please stick to the Nature Park rules and stay on the marked trails within the park property at all other times).
If you want to know what’s going on there at any time, check the events calendar on our website.
Also, in the near future, we will have information about the SRA submitting a petition to re-zone the 7851 Sargent Road (i.e. the Sargent Road Nature House) for it's use as a community center.
Save the Date: Sunday, December 8th for our end of year meeting and holiday party. More info to come on that later.
Sargent Road Association - Spring ‘24 Update
excerpted from SRA Board Meeting Minutes of February 20, 2024
for more information, contact us
Annual Membership Voting Results - The Annual Meeting of the Members was held on December 16, 2023. With 14 members completing ballots, a quorum of members was satisfied. All 14 members voted to elect Larry Love and Craig Burke for 3-year terms to the Board. In addition, 12 of the 14 voting members elected to fund 10 blocks of the Sponsored Traffic Officer Patrol (S.T.O.P.) program, which contracts with a private service with full policing authority. The S.T.O.P. has been very successful in slowing down the traffic speed on Sargent Road (through the presence of officers and the issuance of tickets).
Seeking Membership/Communication Assistance – The SRA Board is actively seeking a community or a board member to take on membership management and communication roles. If you have skills in the space or know someone who does, please reach out to any member of the SRA Board.
Services:
Land Use:
SRA wrote a letter opposing a proposed bill (HB1090) in the General Assembly that sought to override Marion County restrictions on billboards. Thankfully, the bill did not move forward this time, but its sponsors are expected to re-introduce the issue as a stand-alone Bill in the future.
Infrastructure:
Potholes/Road Conditions - The DPW recently patched many of the potholes in the area. As noted in an SRA e-mail dated January 26, 2024, if you are concerned that road conditions are creating a hazard, you can report the nature of the problem and location (by address) to the Mayor's Action Center at (317) 327-4622 or at the City's Request Indy website (https://request.indy.gov/citizen/home).
Drainage/Resurfacing of Sargent Road - a meeting with the SRA-formed Community Working Group and the DPW once the DPW reaches the 30% completion mark, anticipated in March or April. A broader community meeting will follow.
Litterbusters:
April 20, 2024 is the date for the 2024 Litterbusters Clean-Up Day (with a weather back-up date for April 21). Volunteers should arrive at Mud Creek Players parking lot at 8:30a.m. Please mark your calendars!
Road Safety:
Based on the allocation of funds from the annual meeting of the members plus individual member-directed allocations, we will continue the Sponsored Traffic Officer Patrols (S.T.O.P.) in 2024.
Upon our request, City-County Councilor Nick Roberts provided a report detailing accident reports in the Sargent Road area, most of which occurred at 82nd and Sargent Road. We are working with Councilor Roberts and will meet with DPW Director Brandon Herget to discuss options for addressing the road safety issues (including possible infrastructure changes, increased patrols, and/or reduced speed limits).
Beautification:
Community Volunteers continue coordinating beautification efforts, including securing East of Castleton Homeowners (ECHO) participation in clean-up day and proposed flower and tree plantings at Sargent Landing and related areas. A watering source for the plantings (e.g., a rain barrel) is being considered.
SRNH Capital Campaign - following the capital campaign kickoff, the SRA secured pledges of $29,000 over the three-year pledge period.
Sargent Road Nature Park – The Mud Creek Conservancy has secured the required permits and is working with contractors to ready the park for its Grand Opening. Stay tuned for more information!
Walk Sargent Road - Franklin reported that he and Ben Miller of the MCC continue to discuss a desire to hold a “Walk Sargent Road” event for the community in the Fall of 2024.
Upcoming Events:
Litterbusters Clean-up Day - April 20, 2024 (8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.) (with April 21, 2024 being the weather back-up day)
Earth Day – April 22
Walk Sargent Road – Fall 2024
Membership Renewals - If you have not already done so, please visit our website to renew your annual membership in the Sargent Road Association at: https://www.sargentroadassociation.org/donate. We need and value your support!
Our Contact Information
Sargent Road Association
PO Box 50006
Indianapolis, IN 46250