Indianapolis Parks Foundation :: Jenny Cash in the Momlight

Get ready momma: Special things are happening in our city, and you’re set to learn all about them from Indy mom Jenny Cash of the Indianapolis Parks Foundation. 

Let us introduce you to Jenny - a dynamic leader who is making a major impact on the most family-friendly parts of our city {our many parks, trails, greenways, and public spaces}. An Evansville native who graduated from Indiana University, Jenny decided she wanted to “try to live in the big city,” and moved into a friend’s extra room. The rest is history; Indy has been home ever since.After relocating, Jenny looked for opportunities to network and get to know people, and it was through connections she made while interviewing for a job she wasn’t offered that resulted in the start of her career working for the Indy Parks Department. She cites this experience as giving her a first glimpse into the unique kindness that exists in Indy, where people willingly look out for each other and go out of their way to contribute to each other’s success.Landing her job with Indy Parks started Jenny down the same path of contributing to the success of individuals and communities in Indy. This desire to contribute led Jenny to the Indianapolis Parks Foundation in 2012. She has continued to watch the Indianapolis Parks Foundation grow and invest in our community since shifting to her current role as Vice President of Development and Public Relations in 2015, where she continues to help fulfill the organization’s mission and vision.

Jenny works alongside a small team connecting resources {funding, services, donations} to the needs of parks in our community.

Additionally, she and her teammates have the opportunity to visit parks across the country, bringing back ideas for programs, improvements, and increased accessibility. Jenny is understandably excited about her work, and here’s why we can be too: “While we have great parks in our city, there is so much more that we can do. The Parks Department is limited; we help supplement that.”Now for the special-things-happening-in-our-city, check out this impressive list of strategic focus areas where Jenny and the Indianapolis Parks Foundation are contributing to our community in MAJOR ways.

• Tarkington Park - A partnership with the MLK Center to oversee programming and events {think BRICS, movies and concerts in the park} and maintenance with the goal of demonstrating what parks can be

• Riverside Park and the Taggart Memorial Amphitheater - A $120 million development that includes restoration of the monument and construction of an amphitheater set to open in Spring 2021 {Bonus: the Indianapolis Parks Foundation offices will be moving here to increase their community accessibility.}

• Frederick Douglass Park - A capital campaign to build a Family Center at this downtown park in the Martindale-Brightwood community

• Indy Urban Acres - This. Is. Amazing. Organic farms + commitment to supporting food insecure families in Indy = click here to read about and purchase tickets to the 7th Annual Farmraiser {family-friendly for the first time ever!}

Jenny speaks with passion about the diversity of our city and the necessity of listening well as we strive to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

“It’s important that we invest in neighborhoods, but it’s more important that we do that with people and not for them,” a community-mindedness that is reflected in the projects in which the Indianapolis Parks Foundation invests.

WE LOVE MOMS MAKING OUR CITY GREAT:Check out Morgan Snyder from Visit Indy in the Momlight 

As for Jenny’s other job title of ‘Mom,’ she shares that, luckily, balancing her personal and professional spheres hasn’t been a huge challenge. {Real talk: She says, “I was nailing it up until March 13th "when I became a 4th grade teacher and head lunch lady” and we can ALL relate!} Even pre-COVID Jenny was able to bring her daughter Amelia to work with her, a perk of working in and around parks. The benefit extends to each of her kids, who have been exposed to different neighborhoods and diverse people and get to enjoy many of the special events that are a part of her professional life. “Personal life and work life have always been very blended and I like it that way,” she shares.

Today Jenny lives near Eagle Creek Park along with her husband of one year, Aaron, and their blended family: daughters Amelia {10} and Sydney {19} and sons Peyton {15} and Taylor {17}. She shares that their family time feels more limited as the kids get older, but their times together are marked by fun, silliness, and typically competition. Their top summer activity is floating on the White River, taking a break along the way to throw a football and listen to music on the beach. In her kid-free time, Jenny loves cooking, listening to true crime podcasts, and enjoying the Eagle Creek trail stretching between 46th and 56th Streets.

Jenny has big goals to continue doing her part to make our parks great, something we can all get behind.

For updates on how you can help, be sure to follow the Indianapolis Parks Foundation on

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. One last plug for the Farmraiser too!