Cross-section view of outdoor plaza space between new retail development and the speedway grandstands. The stands themselves receive a new, innovative facade. The plaza and associated community area provide room for large crowds to gather and for vendors to sell merchandise.

Birds -eye view of formal plaza that is the heart of a new community gathering place. In addition to events during races, this could be home to a local farmers market , community sale, political rallies, local festivals, or events associated with local schools.

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Speedway hosts three of the biggest festivals in the country each year…the three major races. During this time the area is filled with vendors, promotional exhibits, thousands of people and the roar of the engines. A similar atmosphere can be created for year-round excitement along the newly extended Crawfordsville Road, what this vision considers to be the new main retail corridor.

The existing Crawfordsville Road already has extensive banners, lighting, and landscape plantings, and this would be continued on the new extension. Wide, heavily landscaped sidewalks line both sides of the street, and a wide median provides a safe stopping point for pedestrians crossing the street.

On the north side of the street, a wide plaza with exciting lighting and public art is the front yard to new retail shops, sports bars and restaurants. Anchoring all of this would be a new IMS museum where Crawfordsville Road and 16th Street would merge. Cutting-edge architecture would make a statement about the speedway and be a landmark for years to come. Retail shops and restaurants along the street would complement the visitor experience.

A new IMS museum would anchor retail development along Crawfordsville Road with a year-round tourist destination.

Cross-section view of the Crawfordsville Road extension, showing wide pedestrian sidewalks, extensive landscaping and streetscape treatment, colorful banners and signage, a wide median for pedestrians, and a large plaza in front of new retail development.

The most frequent desire expressed by community residents was the need for a community center. Speedway does not have a traditional “town square” nor an undisputable downtown. Main Street was the historic downtown, but even then it did not function as the civic heart like many downtowns did. Main Street was not the address for major institutions like churches nor for local government. This lack of a civic heart is addressed in this vision with the dramatic reconfiguration of 16th Street, creating a large public space that might contain open plaza space for festivals, an ice skating rink, formal gardens or open space, or an outdoor amphitheater.

This new public space around the track creates a stronger public presence for the area and provides new opportunities for local involvement through festivals and events that benefit the local community as well as the visitor. In addition to obvious u se by visitors during the races, things like a farmers market, car show, or high school theater might regularly use such a facility.

Below: Cross section view of amphitheater and ice skating rink, new museum (left), and new retail development (right). This community space would fit in well with the large festival needs associated with track races.

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While this vision sees developing the new Crawfordsville Road as the primary retail destination corridor, Main Street has the potential to provide goods and services geared more toward local residents. While sports bars, auto-themed shops and higher-end retail stores might thrive on the highly-trafficked Crawfordsville Road area, things like barber shops, family restaurants, medical services, antiques, and similar uses would make Main Street a daily destination.

During the races, Main Street can be “dressed up” with vendors, exhibits, outdoor eating areas, and streetscape elements like banners to celebrate the race. Small plazas created near industrial areas or as infill between two buildings could be great retail courtyards for vendors, and the street could be used to exhibit race cars or similar race-oriented items. Thus while this vision does not see Main Street as a year round tourist destination, it does see it as integral to daily life for Speedway residents with the added benefit of being “dressed up” for the races.

Main of the existing buildings on Main Street could be restored with new windows and awnings. If a business does not or could not use a retail storefront, exhibits or artwork related to their business can help activate the street.

To keep both sides of the street active, this vision sees new light industrial uses having a retail component along Main Street. This could be leased retail space, or it could be a retail outlet that offers the goods being produced at the facility.

This cross-section view of Main Street looking north shows retail development on the left (west side) and new retail outlets along light industrial uses on the east. Alternatives to retail outlets include plaza space that could support vendors during races, a small pocket park, or public artwork. This section view also shows a landscaped median in the middle of Main Street and unique lighting.