INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers Foundation, Purdue University and community partners this week unveiled two renovated basketball courts at Indianapolis Parks & Recreation Department’s Tarkington Park.
The project, led by the Pacers Foundation through its State of Play initiative, honors Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White and WNBA legend Tamika Catchings. The new courts were designed to provide a space where youth and families can play and build community. Partners including Purdue University, Indy Parks and The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis joined neighborhood residents and Fever players for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Purdue-branded court features the university’s gold and black colors and includes White’s signature. White played for the Boilermakers from 1995 to 1999, leading the team to a 1999 NCAA championship. She returned to Indiana as the Fever head coach in 2025.
The Indiana Fever-branded court uses the team’s red and blue colors and features Catchings’ signature. It includes a “Fire Orange” 3-point line, part of a WNBA initiative to honor girls and women on park courts. Catchings played 16 seasons with the Fever, leading the team to its first WNBA championship in 2012. She is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The project is part of the State of Play initiative, which invests in recreational spaces for Indiana families.
The Indiana State Police Alliance also supported the project and will contribute $250,000 over the next five years to renovate more basketball courts across the state.
A news release issued Wednesday from the Pacers Foundation nor a Facebook post from Indy Parks shared the cost of the improvements to the two basketball courts.
The park is at 45 W. 40th St., between North Illinois and North Meridian streets.