Following Taggart's death, community leaders commemorated his legacy of public service and as the father of Indianapolis’ park system through a neoclassical memorial colonnade in the park. Designed by Carleton B. McCullough with Burns & James in association with landscape architect Lawrence Sheridan, the neoclassical pavilion served as an ornament to the park while commemorating Taggart's role in the creation of the park system. The Taggart Memorial was dedicated in 1931. After the 1930s, the Taggart Memorial suffered from neglect and from alterations to the landscape contrary to the park's master plan. The reflecting basin was drained in 1940, and Sheridan's planting scheme was eliminated after World War II. In 1994, the north half of Burdsal Parkway, the main entrance drive, was removed and the south half was realigned. These changes left the Taggart Memorial isolated on one side of the new drive, severely damaging the formal entrance to Riverside Park and the carefully designed processional experience.
