Trail Length and Dollars Growing!

Caption: Donors help Mayor Ballard (third from left) and Brian Payne (second from right) cut the ribbon. Left to right: Andre Lacy, Joe Loftus, Mayor Ballard, Margot Eccles, Marianne Glick, Lori Efroymson, Katrina Basile, Brian Payne, Frank Basile.

On a rainy Saturday morning, June 7, 2008, the first half mile of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick was officially opened. A hearty crowd gathered inside City Market to hear announcements about the Cultural Trail's extension and new generous donations.

Mayor Greg Ballard announced that the Cultural Trail will be extended to Lucas Oil Stadium down the west side of Capitol Avenue, from Washington St. to Maryland St., making the Cultural Trail a total eight miles long.  Two-thirds of this half-mile addition will be funded by additional federal transportation dollars secured by the City of Indianapolis, which are administered through the Indiana Stadium & Convention Building Authority.  Construction for this corridor is expected to begin 2009 and be finished in 2010.

Central Indiana Community Foundation President Brian Payne and Lacy Diversified Industries Chairman Andre Lacy, co-chairs of the Cultural Trail fundraising committee, thanked existing donors whose contributions have made the Trail possible. Andre announced a $1 million grant from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and $100,000 gifts each from Barnes & Thornburg and BSA LifeStructures, Inc.  

"This project simply would not be happening without their support and faith in a big, bold, innovative vision for the city of Indianapolis," said Lacy. 

See recent coverage of the ribbon cutting event in The Indianapolis Star on June 8 and June 11.

Visit our Web site for more details and photos from this event.

Try the New Indianapolis Cultural Trail Mix

Thanks to Elizabeth Garber, owner of the Best Chocolate in Town, 880 Massachusetts Avenue, we have the first Indianapolis Cultural Trail Mix.

The 12 oz. mix sells for $6 each with $1 going back to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail Maintenance Endowment Fund. This gift will also be matched 50% by the Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Eccles Charitable Endowment Fund, a CICF Fund!  What a great way to support the Cultural Trail! Eat yummy chocolate treats AND support a great cause.

You can also find the Indianapolis Cultural Trail Mix at Abbott's Also in the City Market.

June 24 Lunch Meeting

The next "brown bag" lunch meeting will be held Tuesday, June 24, at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., in the Goodrich/Hook Room in the Learning Curve Area, 2nd floor. Parking available in underground garage off Pennsylvania St. One to three hours is $2.00. Please leave your brown bag goodies at home. The first floor Cafe offers soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and beverages.

Brown bag lunch meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at noon at various locations along the Cultural Trail route. Check our Web site for a complete schedule.

Next Bike Tour: Sat., July 12

Discover for yourself how the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will transform downtown Indianapolis. Join us for a guided tour of the entire route and learn about its history, progress, and future plans.

The next tour is Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m. to 12 noon leaving from the English Foundation Building on the northeast corner of North and Alabama streets.

Tours are limited to the first 20 reservations. Children under 10 years old are encouraged to ride with an adult in attached carriage or tandem bike.

For more information, visit www.IndyCulturalTrail.org/get-involved.

Trail Testimonial

"The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is another example of what can happen when this city's public and private interests work together to build a stronger community," The Indianapolis Star Editorial Board, June 11, 2008.