Indianapolis White River. Ignored?

Eh,

I have never lived in Indianapolis or even so much as spent the night in the city. However, it being the only major city (Sorry South bend and Fort Wayne) in Indiana I took a great deal of interest in the urban history and urban ism of the city. There are many things I find annoying about Indianapolis whether it be its lack of public transportation or the condition of its neighborhoods ( with the excuse of a few salty historical districts.) but something that makes me head over heels for the town is its green space which is more than often lacking people when I drive through town. The World War I & II monument is without doubt the envy of multiple cities in this country yet it is so ignored by the public. Put such a piece of green space in a city like Chicago and people would go berserk over it and it might actually be used as green space and not a delicate piece of china to be left untouched on the shelf.
However, this is not about the stretch of green space in downtown Indianapolis. This is about something that is more than often ignored yet has always played a vital role in early Indianapolis.
The White River is what I speak of dear friend. The river is not the Ohio or the Mississippi and ships cannot so much as float on the little river yet it is something that could be utilized and turned into a centerpiece for a growing downtown. Those who have taken the time to look back a few chapters in the Indianapolis History books (if you are lucky enough to find one of the few.) would know Indianapolis was placed on the White River in 1821 under the assumption that it could be used for transporting goods and trade. Shortly after the platting of one mile square by Alexander Ralston they discovered multiple sandbars which left much of the river as a functionless creek but by that time the few hundred pioneers that arrived in the swampy mess of a place had huddled along the river in cabins and pole houses (Whatever those are.) only to have 1/8 of this small population wiped out by a Malaria epidemic from White River fumes and vapors. The abandonment of this ' Old Indianapolis' lead to the build up of Near East side neighborhoods such as Lockerbie Square or Chatham arch by fleeing settlers trying to escape the fatal disease. Indianapolis at first had been very much so for the river. The first cemetery, homes, etc were placed a long the river only to be abandoned by the living and after that only horse pulled barges could bring goods to the village of Indianapolis. Ever since this epidemic it was almost as if the people of the young city feared living near it so like every other US city, they gave the worse part of town to immigrants and later the African-Americans. The only important development on the White River was the construction of multiple coal burning or steam powered industries that saw little use in the White River like the early settlers. The river over the years became a large sewage dump for the city and most people would avoid the near west side if they could.
Over the years the decaying factories and rotting immigrant neighborhoods (Some of which I wish were salvaged.) were demolished to make way for either IUPUI or the White River State Park. The river is slightly used more then it was in the past but only as a trial it seems and even then, the river smells quiet awful. The city has been practical through the years and the utilizing of the river is not an issue. Developers see little point in building anything on a river no one enjoys except the occasional jogger or person walking their dog.
The river is not a damp creek but it is not like the Ohio that multiple proud cities sit upon as I stated earlier.
However, it is a river that could be used. Halt the dumping into the river and try cleaning it up a bit and you may have something to work with.
Another issue is the state of near west side Indianapolis. As grand as IUPUI is with its cold brutalism designs and lack of color or the diverse gardens that White River state park boasts the White River is still not what it could be. In vision sleek apartment and condominium towers with low rises below mimicking the industrial brick look of the new Lucas Oil Stadium. I also see boats and more interesting bridges to create a sophisticated look to the river. Clearly, it is nothing like that now but it could be if people put their minds to it.
Of course, this is an issue far less important than Indianapolis' nonexistent massive public transportation or the seas of parking lots surrounding Western downtown.
Just a thought I suppose.