Bringing Beauty to the Community
If you’ve headed down 10th Street in recent weeks, a vibrant new mural under the CSX bridge and some lovely landscaping in the median might have caught your eye. Heath Outdoor was proud to team up with Near East Area Renewal (NEAR Indy), to help beautify the gateway to the Eastside. The project was made possible by grants from the City of Indianapolis’ Public Art for Neighborhoods program and the Cottage Home Neighborhood Association.
The mural’s design was inspired by images from the gardens of local community members and iconic neighborhood personalities, including Ernie the Corgi. Teen art students played a crucial role by creating stencils of these images, which were then transferred onto the wall. Volunteers from area businesses and the Near Eastside neighborhoods came together to paint the mural. Adding a personal touch, every participant in the project placed their handprint onto the design, symbolizing the community’s collective effort and ownership. 
The project was designed and coordinated by Addie Hirschten, a Cottage Home artist and resident.
In addition to the mural, the surrounding landscaping received a significant upgrade, thanks to funding from the Massachusetts Avenue Community Development Corporation (Mass Ave CDC) and donations from Stenz Corp., Third Street, John Boner Neighborhood Centers, and NEAR. The Mass Ave CDC, which receives $0.10 from each ticket sold at the Old National Centre, allocates grants annually from these funds to support community projects.
Given that the CSX Bridge is a gateway to Digs Garden Center, it only made sense for Heath Outdoor to be involved in the project.
“When NEAR asked us if we’d put in some landscaping, of course I said yes,” said Heath Hurst, president and founder of Heath Outdoor. “We’re deeply rooted in this community. We live here. Our business is here. We’re invested in making it more livable and more attractive to visitors from other neighborhoods. We have a lot to offer.”
The Heath Outdoor team planted two beds with a diverse array of plants, and will continue to maintain the plants pro bono. One bed features an enchanting Asian theme, while the larger bed showcases a beautiful array of wildflowers.
On the eastern section, GroundWork Indy removed the existing landscaping around the bike sculpture area. The plan is to raise funds throughout 2024 and plant new greenery in 2025, ensuring the space continues to evolve and thrive.
The mural and landscaping projects on 10th Street exemplify the power of community collaboration and the positive impact of public art and green space.
Heath Outdoor, a premier, local, family-owned landscaping company established in 2009, proudly serves the vibrant communities of Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Strategically located in the heart of Indianapolis, we extend our expert landscaping and hardscaping services to both commercial and residential customers in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Geist, Noblesville, Zionsville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, McCordsville, Greenwood and beyond.
Custom gardens and landscapes, paver patios and walkways, water features and recreation ponds, custom outdoor fire pits and fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pool and spa vaults, tiny houses, storage sheds, pergolas and decks, retaining walls, fencing and playgrounds.
Mowing, mulching, planting and watering service, irrigation and drainage system installation and repairs, seasonal property clean-ups, and snow and ice management. In 2024, Heath Outdoor added eco-focused private gardening and garden coaching to our property maintenance services through a partnership with Spotts Garden Service.
Planning a wedding or other celebratory event and looking to create an extraordinary backdrop? Let the event design team at Heath Outdoor transform your space with rental plants, lighting and custom structures. We’ll work with your event designer to bring the vision for your event to life and create an experience your guests will never forget.
We’re not just in the business of landscaping—we’re in the business of finding solutions and bringing dreams to life. Whether it’s crafting breathtaking commercial outdoor spaces or creating custom outdoor living areas from scratch, we’ve got the passion, expertise, creativity and team to make it happen.
At Heath Outdoor, we’re also committed to giving back to the community, through our Juneteenth service project, annual participation in the Indy Pride parade, Butter Art Fair and Feast of Lanterns sponsorship and neighborhood beautification efforts.
Heath Outdoor is a Hurst Brothers company. Other brands in the Hurst Brothers family of companies include: Indy Insulation and Spray Company and Spotts Garden Service.
Get in touch with Heath Outdoor today.
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