Located just West of I-465 West, Farley Neighborhood lies along West 10^th Street, Girls School Road and the old B&O railroad bed. It is a mostly blue-collar neighborhood of families who enjoy the amenities of large lots, beautiful trees and creeks running through the neighborhood. The neighborhood has just over 800 homes. Established in the late 1940’s through the 1950’s, the neighborhood is not covenanted or deed restricted.

In 1978, following the “blizzard” that blanketed the city for several days, the residents of Farley met to form an association. The main focus of the association was to provide residents with snow removal. Since that time, the association has become much more involved and has an active role in providing the residents with assistance with safety issues, city-county regulations and codes, storm water drainage, sanitary sewage issues, health information, educational information, zoning variance assistance and more. Farley Neighborhood Association membership is voluntary and dues are $20.00 per year.

A Crime Watch was begun in 2002 and has been successful in reducing crime in Farley by approximately 80% to 85%. Drug problems have been nearly eliminated. Vandalism, petty theft and other misdemeanors are infrequent by comparison to 2000 or 2001. A motivated Crime Watch Director, active block captains and concerned citizens of Farley have made this a successful program.

“Farley Pride” is evident in residents 

working together to clear creeks of debris and overgrowth, repairing and repainting entrance signs and holding garage sales each spring and fall. Farley is proof that an older neighborhood doesn’t have to mean a deteriorated neighborhood. A new goal for spring of 2005 is a garden group to help plant flowers, hold garden walks and encourage the neighborhood to continue the hometown appearance of Farley Neighborhood. 

The major issues for Farley in recent years have been drainage and sanitary sewage issues. The Town of Speedway provides sanitary sewage service. Until 2001, residents were not aware they were paying 50% more for service than the residents of the Town of Speedway. A legal challenge to this surcharge resulted in a battle through the county and state courts for two years. Although Farley presented a strong case based on Indiana legal Codes, they were ultimately defeated in the Indiana Supreme Court. As a result, residents of Farley are still being charged a 50% surcharge without justification from the Town of Speedway.

Another major concern for the neighborhood is the lack of a park or playground for the area. The last vacant green space available adjacent to the neighborhood is now being threatened by a request for a zoning variance to permit construction of a 42 unit 2-family condominium project. Several requests for a public park have been made to the Parks and Recreation department, but have been ignored or set aside for various reasons. The families who live here have no place to ride bikes, play ball, hold picnics or family get-togethers, etc. Demographics of the area show an influx of young families. A park is essential to a neighborhood of Farley’s size and census. The association continues to request a park and will certainly oppose the use of the only green space adjacent to its boundaries for a condominium complex.

Farley maintains a web site at www.neighborhoodlink.com/indy/farley where anyone can read recent neighborhood news, voice opinions or ask questions and find links to local and state government agencies. It is a “gold star” premiere neighborhood web site and has been the only one in Indianapolis for several months. The neighborhood also has an e-mail news service which immediately sends information and alerts to residents who subscribe to the Farley E-mail News Group. The web site has been a great tool for communicating with residents as well as other neighborhoods. The service is free to all neighborhoods at neighborhoodlink.com.