Art, Attractons, Downtown, Events, History, Nightlife, Restaurants, Real Estate, Schoolds, Shopping, Things to do

Art in Beech Grove

Beech Grove, Indiana is a suburb of greater Indianapolis, located only about ten miles from the big city, as the crow flies. It is essentially a smallish community, made up of about 15,000 souls, the type of people who value small town living but enjoy the amenities Indy has to offer.

Art and culture are perfect examples of this happy phenomenon. There is so much excellent culture in Indianapolis, not much need has cropped up in the outlying cities. Some of the nearest art galleries in Indianapolis to Beech Grove are: Alias Gallery & Store, Excellent Virtu Art Gallery, Ruschman Art Gallery, Kauba Gallery, Franklin Barry Gallery, 4 Man Studios and the famous Eiteljorg Museum of American Art and the Indiana State Museum.

Other little towns close to Beech Grove offer art galleries, too, such as the Off-Broadway Gallery in Greenwood, Indiana, and the Pro-Art Gallery, also in Greenwood.

Beech Grove Attractions

The big thing in Beech Grove is bowling. The Beech Grove Bowl has 24-hour bowling, and much more, including great food, music and a bar.

Another great bowling center, only a mile outside of town is Expo Bowl in Indianapolis. They call this 80-lane bowling alley a “leisure center,” because customers can enjoy regular and “cosmic” bowling, laser storm laser tag, play therapy, a day care center with a home school, youth leagues, youth leagues, family specials and a well-stocked café.

A favorite attraction just a couple of miles northwest of Beech Grove is the Sara Shank Golf Course.

Downtown Beech Grove

Beech Grove and another Indy suburb, Carmel, Indiana, have both been used as examples for model renovators of downtown areas.

In Beech Grove, a multi-million dollar project called Better Brighter Beech Grove Project is underway that will revitalize and improve not only the Main Street downtown neighborhood, but several other sections of town, including Beech Grove parks and greenways, Emerson Avenue, Railroad property and I-465 property. In addition, there is a master plan within this project to create low-cost wireless high-speed Internet access for the entire city of Beech Grove.

Geography of Beech Grove

A city of about 15,000, Beech Grove shares a county and many of the same roadways with state capital Indianapolis, but is one of four out of sixteen cities in Marion County that still have an autonomous government. The others are Lawrence, Southport and Speedway.

Located only a few miles southeast of Indianapolis proper, Beech Grove is actually physically surrounded by the sprawling metropolis’ outlying areas in Marian county, even while it maintains its own system of government and public services.

Beech Grove is a great spot to settle down, especially with a family. Like many other Indy suburbs, Beech Grove thrives on a family-oriented atmosphere rife with hard work and tranquil living.

Health in Beech Grove

Lucky Beech Grove residents have an excellent, century-old hospital in town. St. Francis Hospital is a major healthcare provider in the state. It occupies a sprawling complex extending out from Beech Grove into the south side of Indianapolis and also neighboring Mooresville. Other healthcare centers and doctors supplement this great hospital, making Beech Grove one of the healthiest small towns in the state.

History of Beech Grove

The city of Beech Grove was originated as a base for a repair facility owned by the “Big Four” railroads. Amtrak presently runs the rails in town.

Beech Grove was, however, slow to take off as a community. Although official incorporation came in 1906, it was not until 1908 that it began to expand from its tiny stop-off standing, with only two businesses and four homes at the time. Today, a century later, it boasts a comfortable population of 15,000, which is rising year by year.

The local Beech Grove Library maintains a History Room that houses a good collection of newspaper, photographic and other types of memorabilia, including historical information about Beech Grove Schools and life in Beech Grove in general, across the years.

Media Serving Beech Grove Indiana

For years now, locals have been getting their local news from a free newspaper called the Southside Times. This is a weekly newspaper with its offices headquartered inside Beech grove. It also serves surrounding areas such as Greenwood, Southport, Center Grove, Franklin Township and the White River townships.

The paper was originally called the Perry Township Weekly.

The Spotlight is another weekly paper that follows local events.

Beech Grove Restaurants and Nightlife

A stroll along Main Street in downtown Beech Grove or a foray down Emerson Avenue will yield delights for the senses that may seem surprising in a small town environment. From the Napoli Villa, an Italian restaurant fast becoming famous for its excellent fare, to The Grove Sports Bar & Eatery to the local O’Gara’s Irish Pub, one could certainly do a lot worse.

Then there’s bowling at Beech Grove Bowl, offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Notable People of Beech Grove

Steve McQueen is probably one of the most famous people ever to come out of Indiana. “The King of Cool” was not only a movie star who did his own stunts, but a first-class auto and motorcycle racer.

Another extremely famous actor to be born in what is now Beech Grove is Clifton Webb. This talented star made it to the top not only in the movies, but also on the stage in Broadway.

Also of note is the feminist pioneer poet, Sarah T. Bolton, who lived from 1814 to 1893, mostly on land that now is inside Beech Grove. Her poetry was popular for a while, as a sort of homespun pioneer woman’s advocate. Today, a park that rests on some of her old farmland is named after Ms Bolton.

Parks and Recreation in Beech Grove

The city boasts a number of classically beautiful and well-maintained greenways and park for its leisure fun and relaxation. One favorite, the Sarah T. Bolton Park, occupies part of the farmland of its namesake, a well-known poet and feminist.

Beech Grove parks offer picnic areas, athletic fields, sports camps, skateboarding areas and lots of room to enjoy the beautiful and mature native trees and greenery that make up Central Indiana.

Real Estate in Beech Grove, Indiana

Real estate in the community of Beech Grove reflects the people who live there. It is a wonderful place to relocate to, with something for just about any need and yearning. Up-and-coming Beech Grove is receiving a great deal of citywide renovations and improvements these days, which also reflects in available homes for sale.

Schools in Beech Grove

The Beech Grove school system is keeping up nicely with the pace of its population growth. With its elementary, middle and high schools, public and private, it has the kids well-covered when it comes to education.

Sports and Recreation in Beech Grove

Kids have a great time playing and growing up in Beech Grove. The Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts have a strong presence in the community, as does the local 4-H Club. Then there’s the Beech Grove Athletic Boosters, providing football, basketball and volleyball activities, the local Wrestling Club, a local Soccer Club, the Swimming Club and a girls’ softball team.

The local high school wresting and basketball teams and players have made their mark in competitions with the big boys in next door Indy, and other communities in the region. And the “Marching Hornets” are considered one of the best marching bands in the state, if not the country.

Of course, all kinds of sporting events are available in nearby Indy, from the famous Indianapolis 500 to local tournaments for all ages.

Things to Do in Beech Grove

The local Hornet Park Fitness Center offers classes in everything from Belly Dancing to Tai-Chi to Boot Camp, along with special events such as health fairs and bike-a-thons.

Along with the organized parks athletics and play programs, there are other fun ways to spend leisure time in the charming and historical city of Beech Grove. Main Street and Emerson Avenue contain lots of points of interest.

Then there’s always big neighbor Indy, with its friendly arms open wide, always inviting the suburbanites to come and enjoy its cornucopia of things to do in Indianapolis.