HUNDREDS CELBRATE INDIANA
DEAF SCHOOL MONON PLAZA GRAND OPENING

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and Indiana School for the Deaf Superintendent David Geeslin recently joined the school's student body, neighborhood residents, community leaders and greenway users in celebrating the grand opening of the Indiana Deaf School Monon Plaza.

"The Indiana Deaf School Monon Plaza is so much more than an access point on the trail. This beautiful plaza represents the creativity and innovation of many people and partnering organizations, resulting in a wonderful community gathering spot," said Mayor Ballard. "I commend the Indiana School for the Deaf for their vision to create a gateway for the users of the Monon Trail Greenway to explore deaf culture. The student body's passion and pride for this new sculpture and plaza clearly shows on the faces of all participating in today's event."

About 300 children and adults participated in the grand opening. The plaza, located on the west edge of the school's property along the Monon Trail north of 42^nd Street, features a sculpture created with a "Gateway to Deaf Culture" design. Indiana School for the Deaf students hand-made unique, individual ceramic tiles that encircle the archway of the sculpture. The tiles incorporate four themes chosen by the students that highlight American Sign Language and Deaf Culture. Other features of the plaza include a pathway, benches, drinking fountain and new trees, shrubs and perennials.

"Our ISD community has poured their hearts into this project, working with the hearing community to take down the communication barrier by showing the fine art of communicating in American Sign Language that is poignantly demonstrated on the Monon Trail," said Dr. Geeslin. "It is a historical moment whereby the unity of two languages interact well in the medium of Art, which may very well serve as a universal language. This journey of creating a beautiful plaza on the Monon Trail requires tireless, collaborative efforts of many different organizations with the same mission of making Indianapolis a beautiful place to live. This is reflective of why Indianapolis won the award of the best city to live for people with disabilities and that accessibility remains our city's strong suit."

Project and community partners for the Indiana Deaf School Monon Plaza include CSO Architects, Indy Parks & Recreation, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Shiel Sexton, VSA Arts of Indiana, Indianapolis Washington Township Lions Club, Hoosier Deaf Bikers, Indiana Association of the Deaf, and Maxim Services LLC. Participants in today's grand opening included City-County Councilor Jackie Nytes, VSA Arts of Indiana CEO Jim Nulty, Indy Parks Principal Park Planner Andre Denman, and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful President David Forsell.

About The Indiana School for the Deaf
The Indiana School for the Deaf is a fully accredited school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in nursery school through high school. It provides services to about 370 students enrolled on campus and more than 200 students through outreach services. About 60 percent of the students live on campus during the academic year. ISD offers a full range of social activities including sports, clubs and organizations.