The Indianapolis Board of Parks and Recreation on Oct. 21 approved a request to allow beer and wine to be served — not sold — at Groundwork Indy’s 10-year fundraising celebration, to be held Feb. 20, 2026, at Groundwork Indy’s headquarters located at 975 Bridal Parkway.

Adam Velasquez, executive director of Groundwork Indy, told the board the organization is a 20-year tenant of the firehouse and that hosting the event in its renovated space would save the nonprofit an estimated $23,000 compared with renting an outside venue. Velasquez said the event would be ticketed, invite-only and likely limited to about 100 attendees, and that donated beverages and a certified bartender would be used.

"We're looking at hiring a bartender for the event with the adequate ServSafe trainings," Velasquez said, adding the organization would follow any security recommendations from the board.

Board members discussed legal and operational oversight because the facility is leased. Adam Wicker, corporation counsel, advised that the fire station is city-owned property leased to Groundwork Indy and that the lease is silent on alcohol; counsel recommended bringing the request to the board for formal permission.

Board members asked about crowd control and security. Joseph Wrens, a board member, asked whether the board had authority over a leased facility; Wicker replied that because the city owns the property and the board oversees the parks system, the board's consideration was appropriate. Larry Bates, another board member, pressed for a security commitment, saying that "free" offerings can create crowds and that he wanted assurances of security staffing; Velasquez committed to hire outside security if required and said he would ensure certified staff would manage service and cut people off if necessary.

Angie Clark, board secretary, moved the recommendation; the board voted in favor and approved the request. The approval as presented allowed beer and wine to be served but not sold at the on-site fundraising event; any operational conditions (security, certified servers) were discussed as expectations during the meeting but the formal motion did not enumerate specific conditions.

Velasquez said the organization would pursue recommended security and staffing practices while noting that saving venue rental costs would bolster the nonprofit’s fundraising in a time of tight grant funding.

The board did not record a roll-call vote in the public remarks.