November 7, 2024
30 Years of Building Community: Millersville & INRC’s Legacy of Togetherness
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By Danae Freeman, Engagement Manager
Cac Diehr is the president of Millersville at Fall Creek Valley, an association representing 25-30 neighborhoods near Fall Creek Parkway on the northeast side of Indianapolis. Since 2009, Millersville has been a driving force for revitalizing and strengthening the community.
In honor of INRC’s 30th anniversary, we sat down with Cac to reflect on the 15-year partnership between INRC and Millersville—a collaboration rooted in community pride, transformation, and resilience.
Boundaries of Millersville neighborhoods
Millersville’s story began with a mission to address growing concerns about the community’s business district, which was losing vitality as storefronts stood vacant.
Cac led efforts to revitalize the area, remarking, “It was like an apple with rot spreading. When an area looks abandoned, it drives people away and can give rise to blight. We decided we couldn’t wait until the community collapsed to act.”
The Millersville neighbors contacted the Mayors Neighborhood Advocates to kickstart action toward a solution. This began the work to develop a multi-year quality-of-life plan. It became a study to gather information on local assets and sustainable solutions to rising concerns.
The group began to seek opportunities to get neighbors involved to engage community members, collaborate to tackle issues, and inspire pride among those who live and work in Millersville.
Throughout this process, INRC staff assisted the organization and encouraged them to apply for their first grant to invest in their neighborhoods.
A $5K Lilly Endowment IMAGINE grant active in 2010 funded the organization’s “Millersville Treasures” environmental and history bus tour and the accompanying booklet – Millersville Treasures Tour.
A Trip Through Millersville’s History
Millersville at Fall Creek Valley’s Millersville Treasure Tour in 2010
Historic Millersville featured on Millersville at Fall Creek Valley “History” page
Neighbors rented trolleys to tour Millersville and Brendonwood, one of the first suburbs in the US. With an accompanying tour guide, they shared the stories and impact of locations such as Historic Millersville, with a history dating back to the 19th century, the William Winpenny Home built in 1848, and Fletcher Mansion. The tour highlighted both historical and environmental assets in the community with an aim to spark conversations and interest among neighbors from 25 neighborhoods.
The booklet shared on Millersville’s website recounts each stop of the tour with relevant fun facts and photos illustrating the story of how the community came to be.
“It was a really happy day,” Cac shared. “Most people on the tour didn’t know about the history we showcased—or had only vague childhood memories of it.”
The tour helped foster a sense of pride and inspired residents to become more involved. Meetings became regular, and community members began tackling other challenges, including traffic safety on North/South Emerson Way.
A major success came when the group worked to establish a pedestrian-safe bridge connecting to Fall Creek Trail, keeping neighbor safety a top priority.
INRC and Millersville: A Lasting Partnership
Cac reflected on INRC’s role over the years, saying, “INRC got neighbors involved and showed them how these kinds of projects come to life.” The success of the “Millersville Treasures Tour” led Millersville to reprise it in 2012 for the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference, where leaders from across 30 states and Japan gathered in Indianapolis to exchange ideas on community building.
Neighborhoods USA 2012 hosted by the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center
Map of Millersville at Fall Creek Valley’s Northeast Indianapolis Tour for NUSA 2012
Members were also awarded two grants from INRC’s Neighborhood Grant Program for the beautification and safety of their neighborhoods.
Millersville at Fall Creek Valley Volunteers in 2022 planting perennial wildflowers at Fall Creek Overlook
Through their projects, the volunteer-led organization restored greenspaces, cleared out invasive plants, and created fun opportunities for environmental education.
Building Blocks for the Future
Returning to the once-struggling business district, Cac described how new businesses—like Walmart and local restaurants—began setting up shop, sparking a new chapter for the neighborhood. “It was like building blocks,” she said, noting how each new addition contributed to the area’s growth.
When asked what she loves most about Millersville, Cac emphasized the people. “When neighbors come together with a common goal, incredible things happen,” she said, mentioning the annual Millersville Fall Festival, a community gathering with activities, vendors, music, and resources.
Millersville Fall Festival 2024
Reaction to INRC’s 30th Anniversary
“I am still so pleased that INRC is still here. INRC has always been there as a fiscal sponsor and had grants that were essential to operate. If it weren’t for INRC we don’t know how we would have gotten started,” Cac explained.
INRC staff at Millersville at Fall Creek Valley Annual Meeting
Millersville at Fall Creek Valley Ongoing Efforts
Millersville at Fall Creek Valley has several current initiatives to continuously make the neighborhoods a great place to live.
Cac mentioned their organization’s intentionality in supporting and creating partnerships with local businesses, having regular neighborhood clean-ups, hosting engaging community events, and encouraging young people to get involved in the organization and its board.
Advice for Aspiring Community Organizers
“It works if you have a purpose and focus on what is threatening your community and to unite everyone. Planting flowers is great but, find something that everyone can get behind. Find nonprofits, people that you can work with and tell them about your cause,” Cac said.