6/20/2005
Media Contact:
Kristen Weaver, PIO [317] 327-7035
Chris Radford, Asst. PIO [317] 327-7027 |
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Sol and Toby Blickman donate valuable land to Indy Parks
Mayor Peterson applauds the Blickmans' generous contribution to city's park system, commitment to youth INDIANAPOLIS - Today, Mayor Bart Peterson honored local philanthropists Sol and Thelma Toby Blickman for their land donation to Indy Parks and Recreation. The Blickman Educational Trail Park runs parallel to the White River and will allow residents to easily link between Holliday Park, 6349 Spring Mill Road, and Marott Park, 7350 N. College, and provide access to the Monon Trail.
Mr. Blickman made a gift to the Indianapolis Parks Foundation that was designated for and immediately used to purchase the land from the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. The donation stipulates the land be used as an outdoor environmental education destination for Indianapolis youth, specifically, offering first priority to the area Girl and Boy Scout organizations. Also stipulated is that the land must remain in its natural state in perpetuity.
"Mr. Blickman's generous contribution to our park system will help ensure Indianapolis youth and their families can benefit and learn from the city's precious natural resources for generations to come," said Mayor Bart Peterson.
"It is in celebration of our 56th wedding anniversary and, as life-long residents of Indianapolis, an expression of gratitude to all those who have supported and encouraged us for the past 83 years," said Mr. Blickman. "It is our earnest hope that young people will use and learn about nature in this park, and develop into Indy's leaders of tomorrow."
Currently, the land is accessible through a path that begins in the small parking lot at the corner of Meridian Street and Arden Drive, just south of 65th Street. The location can also be accessed through trails through Holliday and Marott Parks.
Indy Parks' environmental education and planning staff will work on integrating the land's natural resources and amenities into Indy Parks' successful environmental education programming, curriculum and activities for youth and families.
Mr. Blickman is a life-long resident of Indianapolis, having attended Public School 66 and Shortridge High School and Indiana University before serving overseas as an Army Captain of World War II. Following the death of his father, Sol became president of Rogers Jewelers and was a director of the Downtown Merchants' Association and the National Jewelers' Association, president of the Indiana Jewelers' Association and lectured at New York University.
Following the sale of Rogers Jewelers to Zales in 1959, Sol and his brother Jerry founded Rogers Swimming Pools in Broad Ripple, serving as a wholesaler to pool builders and service companies throughout Indiana. Sol was a director of the National Wholesalers' Association.
Mr. Blickman's most important volunteer activities have been in education and theology. He was president of the Washington Township School Board and founding president of the Metropolitan Assembly of School Boards made up of one representative from each of the eleven school districts in Marion County, and remains committed to improving education for Indianapolis youth.
A former president of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, Sol continues to be active in ecumenical efforts. He's on the steering committee of Rev. Donald Lacy's Institute for Ecumenism (L.I.F.E.) Sol has been an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Indianapolis for 25 years. That club is one of the largest and most respected in the world. He was a recipient of the club's Civic Award and was named a Kiwanian-of-the-year. He currently serves as a director of the club's foundation, which makes annual grants of about $250,000 per year to benefit and encourage young people.
Sol and Toby Blickman were married in Indianapolis on May 15, 1949. They have four children and seven grandchildren.
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