From Sustainable Cities Collective:

Some American cities, though different in shape, size, and culture, share traits that make them great places to live, work, and play. In my four years at Ball State University, I was fortunate enough to travel with my urban planning program to many cities across the country, including: Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; New Orleans, Louisiana; Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Los Angeles, California.

Inspired by the cities I’ve visited, I’ve compiled a list of physical qualities that I believe help make the city of Indianapolis great.

IndyGo Indianapolis, Indiana

1. Transportation

The IndyGo bus system services the city through a fixed route structure. Currently, studies are being conducted to see how transit options such as bus rapid transit or light rail would do in Indy. There are extensive bike and pedestrian trails throughout Indianapolis, including The Cultural Trail and The Monon Trail.

White River State Park Indianapolis, Indiana

2. Public Art

Downtown is full of art installations. Whether it’s ‘Ann Dancing’ on Massachusetts Avenue or the installations at the White River State Park, there’s always something fun and exciting to look at.

Indianapolis City Market Indianapolis, Indiana

3. City Marketplaces

I love Faneuil Hall in Boston. The Indianapolis City Market is remarkably similar, with over twenty-five vendors on the first floor and ample seating on the second that overlooks the entire market.

Fall Creek Place Indianapolis, Indiana

4. Housing Options

The immediate downtown area is full of apartments and condos where people can live. Several new housing projects are on the way to being completed, with many of these being mixed-use developments.

Mass Ave Indianapolis, Indiana

5. City Districts

Indianapolis is broken down into six culture districts. These are areas in the city that have been branded with their own logo in order to be distinguishable and marketable.

Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis, Indiana

6. Sports

Sports teams draw people together in a way that nothing else can. Indianapolis has a NFL team, The Colts, and an NBA team, The Pacers. Additionally, they have a WNBA team, The Fever; a Minor League Baseball team, The Indians; and a Minor League hockey team, The Ice.  A soccer team will join Indy in 2014: Indy Eleven.

Did I miss anything? What makes your city great?