Fall 2025 Cultural Campus Update
The Crooked Creek Cultural Campus derived from the recognition that, even before COVID, an already deteriorating “sense of Community” existed in our historic Crooked Creek Community. I recognized that kids were more into phones & social media, adults focused on day to day life — there seemed to be no real focus on community events, gatherings and fellowship.
I recalled my youth performing “summer stock” theater at the old Starlight Musicals — how those summers transformed my life. Few opportunities existed for kids to participate and be exposed to arts and culture then — and fewer now with school programs being cut. I also felt that there was not a “natural meeting place” for the Community.
I had a vision which has developed into the Crooked Creek Cultural Campus — to provide access to all ages and backgrounds to art, culture, educational and community-building opportunities, while creating a “cultural focal point” in the Crooked Creek Community that would appeal to the entire City. The Cultural Campus’ location, at 62nd Street and Michigan Road, is a natural fit since our Public Library is across Michigan Road from the proposed Campus.
Crooked Creek Community Land-Use Committee, along with the support of Pike Township Residents Association (PTRA), defeated rezoning attempts for a gas station, storage facility and apartment complex proposed for the 3.5 “L” shaped wooded acres. Recognizing we could not prevail forever, I approached Joan SerVaas, informing her of my 25 year mentored relationship with her father, Dr. Beurt SerVaas. I asked her to purchase and donate the site for my vision. She agreed! We are now seeking to add 4.5 acres, giving us an 8 acre Campus. Our plan is to maintain and preserve these woods, including several Heritage Trees, working with Indy Parks for educational tree identification and other environmental programs among other activities.
I developed a “Visioning Committee” with representatives from Newfields, Asante Children’s Theater, Pike Performing Arts Center, an architect, lawyer, teachers, clergy, professional fundraisers, area residents, resident performers and others — who shaped my vision over an 18 month period. An initial bubble diagram representing desirable spacial elements has been developed — yet nothing has been finalized except the footprint of the building and Site Plan.
The Visioning Committee envisioned a facility that would have “coffee hours” to exchange Community concerns or issues, collaborating with the Library for family game nights, book clubs, financial & writing literacy classes, inter-generational movie nights — to have kids work with a professional comic book artist to develop their own art, characters and storylines, exposure to puppetry, an educational recording studio, improv theater and the traditional arts — all transferable skills providing critical thinking capabilities that kids and adults can engage in and learn from.
We have had early discussions with Indy Parks, Herron School of Art & Design, Brown Hound Studios, Washington Township School District, Pike Township School District, area private schools, Actor’s Theater of Indiana, Arts with a Purpose and others seeking collaborations. Our goal is to add to and enhance existing community opportunities in our Community, NOT to duplicate services that already exist.
Please join us in creating this truly transformative, community facility and culturally rich project for our Community. The Crooked Creek Cultural Campus will be a hub of positive activity engaging all ages and backgrounds in our Community. Please share this information with your friends, neighbors, organizations and congregations. Please donate and make this grass-roots effort to improve the quality of life in our Community a success! Add your name to the list of donors — inspiring larger foundations and businesses to “lean in” and support the development of the Cultural Campus! This grass-roots effort can only succeed with our Community’s support!
Please donate at: CrookedCreekCulturalCampus.org/donate
The Cultural Campus was originally a KMM Foundation project, but it has been spun-off to have its own Crooked Creek Cultural Campus 501(c)(3) IRS non-profit status.
Please visit my website (KmmFoundationIndy.org) to learn about the thirty plus years I have worked to improve the quality of life in our Community.
