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Who We Are
About BRAG | Thomas Binford | BRAG Officers | Objectives | BRAG Map
Thomas Binford
In a 1999 publication of the Columbia Club, John Walsh described Tom Binford as a “City, State and National Treasure”. Members of BRAG couldn’t agree more, and we find it most fitting that the north-south corridor into Indianapolis on the north east side of the city has been named Binford Boulevard. It is even more appropriate that BRAG has chosen to look to Mr. Binford as a source of inspiration. A 1994 Boy Scout tribute to Tom Binford put it this way, “He has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all members of the community, helping in significant ways to make Indianapolis a great place to call home.”
Perhaps Tom Binford’s most notable accomplishment was Chief Steward of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race for 22 years, from 1974-1995. He served on a number of corporate boards, including the Indianapolis Water Company, Indianapolis Power and Light, Bio-Dynamics, Boehringer-Mannheim (Roche), INB/NBD/Bank One. He was a founder of the Indianapolis Urban League and the US Auto Club (USAC) and served as president of the Indiana Pacers and chairman of the Indianapolis Raceway Park. In addition, he devoted his time and talents to numerous professional, social, civic and educational boards and committees, such as Goodwill Industries. He was a director of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, served as acting president of DePauw University, and a trustee of Rose-Hulman Institute. Binford was the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash and the Columbia Club’s Benjamin Harrison Medallion for distinguished service.
Tom Binford attended Park-Tudor, Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter, NH) and Princeton University. BRAG is proud to have Tom Binford as a role model and guiding star as we, too, work to “improve the quality of life for all members of the community, helping in significant ways to make the BRAG area a great place to call home.” |
About BRAG
BRAG, short for Binford Redevelopment and Growth, was launched in April 2005 as a grassroots effort to “fight the blight” at Binford Boulevard and 71st Street.
With that effort now bearing significant fruit, the organization has grown into a community development group with a broader focus, addressing economic and quality-of-life issues facing residents and businesses in the area bound by Sargent Road on the east, 82nd Street on the north, Dean Road on the west and 56th Street and Fall Creek Road on the south. Hundreds of volunteers have planted bulbs, perennials and trees along the Binford corridor, a project supported by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and honored with a Gold Leaf Award from the Indiana Arborist Association. The organization also has spearheaded crime-prevention efforts.
In the fall of 2006, the BRAG area was chosen to be a part of the Great Indy Neighborhoods demonstration initiative involving quality-of-life project planning. With the help of graduate students from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, BRAG conducted hundreds of resident interviews along with focus groups to learn what residents find attractive about the area, what they see as its assets and what they would like to improve.
In June 2007, a neighborhood vision planning meeting helped narrow the focus of the GINI demonstration project to six priority issues:
- Pedestrian access and connectivity
- Business development (particularly around the Binford Boulevard and 71st Street area)
- Crime reduction and safety
- Increasing parks and green space
- Better perception of Lawrence Township schools
- Sustainability
For each priority, BRAG has formed an action group, and these groups are meeting throughout the late summer and fall to make plans for addressing the six priorities.
Through a GINI early action grant, BRAG formed the Binford Farmers Market. The market runs from late Spring into late Fall. For more information check out www.binfordfarmersmarket.com.
A list of the BRAG officers and Directors is given on the members page.
BRAG is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, with a Web site at www.binford71.org. |
BRAG Officers and Directors
Jane Lommel, President
Jane Lommel has lived in Avalon Hills for 19 years. She became fed up with the empty strip malls and visual blight at Binford and East 71st Street and wanted to do something positive about it. She believes that the demographics of our area warrant upscale shops and a village environment with mixed recreational/pedestrian and bicycle access/condos/gourmet food stores, etc. Jane is married to Richard Judy. She has a 26 year old daughter who is in the accelerated nursing program at Johns Hopkins. Jane currently runs her own workforce consulting firm.
Larry Riggle, Vice-President
Larry Riggle has been an Avalon Hills resident for 34 years. He has been the president of the Avalon Hills Civic Association for the past 7 years and a member of the board for 10 years prior to being president. He was one of the early instigators of BRAG and got involved because he believes we live in a great area that is starting to show its age. Larry led the effort to secure “noise barriers” along I-465. This effort started in 1995 and we are finally getting them installed this year.
Ray Brinkmeyer, Member
Kas Vargo, Treasurer
Kas and her husband Greg, parents of two grown children, have lived in Ivy Hills since 1995. She got involved in BRAG after talking with Jane at an Indy 500 Race party and learning that an organizational meeting was scheduled for the following week. Kas believes Binford Boulevard is our “Main Street” and feels it should reflect the quality of the surrounding neighborhoods. Kas owns and operates an interior design and remodeling business and a garden design and service business.
Peter Courtney, Member
Eileen Herr, Secretary
Eileen Herr and her family have lived have lived in Devonshire IX since March 1, 1994 She got involved with BRAG as a result of reading a brief blurb in the Skiles Test Pilot (school newsletter) announcing a meeting in the cafeteria--"Please attend if you were interested/concerned about the barren corner at 71st and Binford". The community spirit and enthusiasm generated in the meetings and the beauty of the plantings are what attracted Eileen to BRAG and keep her involved.
George Kennedy, Member
George Kennedy is currently the East Avalon Hills neighborhood representative to BRAG. He has lived in East Avalon Hills since 1970. He served as Block Captain (2 years), Area Coordinator (2 years, Vice President (2 years) and President (3years). George has been involved with BRAG since the first meeting because he firmly believes in its goals in helping maintain the area and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Joe Komenda, Member
Joe Komenda has lived in the Devonshire V Neighborhood in Indianapolis for over 39 years. Joe married Marianne Hensel, and they had three daughters. Sadly, Marianne passed away in 1998 after a 2 year battle with cancer. Joe was a Branch Manager for Barber-Colman Co., the firm he worked for and later represented for a total of 44 years. Joe has volunteered for many organizations and presently is Sunday School Supt. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, Commander of a Post and a District Chairman for American Legion, Volunteer for Heifer International and on the board of Devonshire Civic Association and of Binford Redevelopment & Growth (BRAG). Because of his love for and involvement with his neighborhood, Joe shares the concerns and goals for which BRAG was formed and is pleased to be part of its ongoing efforts.
Karen Kryah, Member
John Kryzston, Member
Scott Motter, Member
Scott Motter has owned the Mailing Station, located on the northwest corner of 71st and Binford, for the past seven years. He and wife Terri have two red-headed boys, Caleb and Noah. The Motter family currently lives in Broadripple, but are looking to relocate to the BRAG area.
Erik Vohs, Member
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BRAG Objectives
- Collaborate with local businesses and residents to attract new businesses to the area and retain the ones we have
- Develop a strategic plan to guide and monitor progress
- Seek funds for financing BRAG communications and activities.
- Meet regularly with neighborhood associations and governmental entities.
- Apply for grants and sign up volunteers for beautification projects.
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 BRAG Area Map
Read the BRAG Fact Sheet |
BRAG Bylaws
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