Try to visualize the structure you believe is the most closely associated with Indianapolis. The Monument is the one almost everyone thinks of if asked that question. It’s one of my favorite photo subjects just because it’s such a powerful local icon. It can’t be overestimated it’s significance to the community, Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Monument Circle. It’s the geographic center of town, the apex upon which everything else spreads systematically in every direction. The hub of the spokes.
Roundabouts are gaining popularity these days with traffic planners it seems, as the new “in” way of handling traffic flow. What’s overlooked is this original roundabout. “The Circle” has worked here in this manner for over a hundred years.
If you look into the future though, what’s in store for Monument Circle? It’s next chapter. Maybe it’s days as the original traffic handler will be history at some point. Maybe instead, a pedestrian plaza or mall, a gathering place and site for special local events. There have been some very real proposals to do just that. For a little while we’d miss taking a partial lap around it in the car while navigating to another downtown destination, but we’d get over it. I can actually see that happening at some point. Let the people really use it.
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