My Top Tips for New Fishers Residents

When I first moved to Fishers five years ago from Broad Ripple with my young family, I was excited to see what my new community had to offer and couldn’t wait to feel at home. Well, it didn’t take long, as my family quickly explored Holland Park and the concerts at the NPD AMP, and we never missed a weekend at the Fishers Farmer’s Market!  

As my love for my new hometown grew, I knew I had to get involved. Now I’m the Director of Employee and Customer Success for the City of Fishers and get to welcome and serve our hardworking employees, neighbors, and fellow residents. Our team works to ensure that everyone has the same warm welcome I received when visiting these (and many other) experiences around the city. Whether it was running in to City Hall with a quick question or spending the day at a local splash pad or hiking trails, we had a great experience.  

When preparing to get settled into my new home, I had created a checklist to ensure everything was in order. Here are some helpful tips that were on my list: 

• Call Fishers Utilities at 317-595-3140 to start your sewer or stormwater billing. In Fishers, you’ll receive a monthly sewer bill from Fishers Utilities, as well as an annual Stormwater Bill. What in the world is Stormwater Utility you ask? It’s for the runoff water on your property so your yard and street don’t flood. I’d never heard of this before I moved to Fishers, but learned that I’ve been paying for this utility other placed I’ve lived, it was just rolled into other bills I was paying. In Fishers, the utility is simply owned and operated by the City instead of a different entity. Check out more information here.  

• Your power company is either Duke Energy or Nine Star.  
• Gas is Vectren Energy, now called CenterPoint Energy.  
• To get water turned on for the home, it’s Citizen’s Energy Group or Indiana American Water Co.  
• Check out which private trash removal company services your neighborhood. I didn’t know anyone in our subdivision when we moved to town, so I kept an eye open to see what trash bins my neighbors were setting out on trash day and then called to start service with the company listed on the side of their bins (who quickly brought out bins for us to utilize). In Fishers, you get to select your trash removal company and have the choice between Rays (orange bins), Republic (blue bins), and Waste Management. Commercial properties additionally have an option with Best Way.   
• While caring for the landscaping at our new home, we were looking for a yard waste removal option and learned that there is a nearby option just north in Noblesville, Hamilton County Household and Hazardous Waste and Green Cycle, as well as Green Way on 86th Street just south of us in Indy. The City also offers a biannual, free recycling day for residents in the spring and fall.  

• Follow the City on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the know. 
• Additionally, I quickly joined various local groups on social media. Try Fishers, IN Moms Group and Fishers Chatter. If you’re thrifty like me, join Furniture Only Hamilton County and Garage Sale Carmel + Fishers. These groups are not affiliated with the City but are great resources to connect with others in the community. 
• We received The Current in Fishers newspaper and Fishers Magazine in the mail, two great resources to learn even more about happenings in our community.  
• Sign up for various newsletters from the City of Fishers to be in the know (Drive Fishers for road and construction alerts, the volunteer newsletter, Fishers Parks, Fishers Health Department and more).   

• Download the Fishers Connect App to report any repairs needed throughout the city. Notice a pothole that needs to be filled or a streetlight that’s out? Quickly report the need in a few clicks and it automatically creates a work order within the city and you get a tracking number to follow the progress of your request and get answers to your questions. 
• When I first drove past City Hall, there was a large banner out front promoting Stigma Free Fishers that sent me to the website where I learned about the city’s initiative to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and offer resources to help those struggling. I learned while working for the city that we have specially trained EDO’s (EMS Duty Officers within our Fire and Police Departments to help in a crisis.  
• Other great programs offered by the city include Hometown Help for Heroes and Morning Call Network for Seniors. 
• Sign up with Smart 911 to provide first responders helpful information on you, your family, your home, and any special needs or medications so they can help you best if an emergency arises.  
• Hot tip: If purchasing a home, you’ll want to ensure that an assessment was completed for the previous homeowner and any unpaid utility balances are sorted in the closing documents or you could get stuck with their outstanding sewer or stormwater utility bills, as the balance sticks with the property and not the homeowner. Talk to your title company today to check this off your to-do list!  

• Sign up with your neighborhood Nextdoor site. 

After you get settled in, here are my hometown tips, must do events, and favorite things about Fishers: 

• Most days, we’d spend all day at the HEPL Library and enjoyed their FREE programing and story time! I met lots of other parents here and always felt welcome. The Ignite Studio in the basement is amazing. You can sew, paint, 3D print, screen print, record videos, mix music, toss clay and learn from the maker-in-residence. If you are crafty, you should also check out the Fishers Maker Playground, which is a makerspace operated by Fishers Parks. 

• Our favorite spots in town: sledding and hiking at Flat Fork Creek Park where we love searching for all the treehouses and rolling down the hill after a picnic. Goldfish Swim School (parents – the water is SO warm), Pinheads for kids birthday parties and bowling/arcade fun (visit kidsbowlfree.com for free bowling passes all summer long), Wasson’s Nursery for landscaping materials and flowers, Ohana Donuts (you must try the donut sundae for a true treat), Kona Ice, Big Apple Bagels, the Nickel Plate Trail, Hot Air Balloon Rides (tethered) at Conner Prairie (kid-safe), Ninja Zone, Adrenaline Family Fun Park, tea parties at Twigs & Tea, Fishers Parks Summer Camps, Richey Woods Nature Preserve, Master Yoo’s World Class Tae Kwon Do, and The Maker Playground at the Hub & Spoke, and the Fishers Test Kitchen. 

• Get out on the beautiful water! The Geist Reservoir is my happy place, where I can paddleboard and kayak just minutes away from home. Check out Geist Marina for kayak rentals and then enjoy a fruity drink next door at Wolfie’s outdoor patio or ice cream at Crave Ice Cream Social.  
• Explore all the small businesses and shop and dine local! I love nights out with friends for dinner, as there are so many options. A few favorites: Hope Anchor & Crew and Unplug Soy Candles and Four Day Ray Brewing, Chatham Tap and Parks Place Pub. Don’t miss the city’s Shop Fishers celebration happening in July and November/December where local restaurants and shops offer special deals to shop small.  

• Check out the IoT Lab and Launch Fishers to learn more about our entrepreneurial city.  
• I participated in the City Government Academy where I learned about every department in the city from the Controller’s office to Fire and Emergency Services to understand how each part of my new hometown made it all work behind the scenes. My civic pride grew exponentially, and I couldn’t stop talking about how my smart, vibrant and entrepreneurial community operated. Who knew the Wastewater Treatment Plant could make me feel so much pride in my city?! 
• Everyone’s going to the YMCA! The outdoor pool here is perfection. 
• Mudsock Youth Athletics is a popular choice in the city for youth athletics.  
• Volunteer for the Youth Mentoring Initiative or the Fishers Youth Assistance Program!  
• Shortly after I came to town, the Fishers AgriPark was born and I couldn’t wait to show my children where food actually comes from (not the freezer aisle) and how a real working farm operates. Visit the farm, it’s such a wonderful and unique park offering!  

• Make plans now to stay in town for Spark!Fishers and invite your family and friends, too! This is a fantastic, multiple day festival takes place June 21 through 25 and something you simply can’t miss! The parade, the 5K run/walk, the Car and Arts Show, music, shopping, food, and family fun is something we look forward to every year.  
• Want to show off your Fishers pride? Check out the online apparel store to grab your gear or to create a welcome gift for a family member or friend moving to Fishers!  

I brag to my friends that Fishers has it all! Great community parks and events, proximity to Indianapolis and all my favorite sports offerings (Colts, Pacers, Fever, Indians, Indy Fuel and Indy Eleven), and the Geist Reservoir where I can live my best life out on the water. I grew up a lake girl and can’t wait for the new Geist Waterfront Park coming in 2024.  

Fishers truly is a fantastic place to live, work, and play. It’s not just a slogan…it’s true! I think you’ll find this out very soon.  

If you ever have any questions, concerns, or ideas, you can reach out to our Customer Experience Team at 317-595-3111. We are truly excited to welcome you to the Fishers Family!