Construction to Start on Monon Trail Connection

The next phase of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick will begin construction in mid-November. The Northeast Corridor will connect the East Corridor on Alabama Street to the Monon Trail terminus on 10th Street. Compared to Alabama Street's half mile, the Northeast Corridor is approxmiately one mile in length and will feature both combined and separated trail paths with the same trail design, benches, bike racks, lighting and signage. Due to the use of federal transportation funding for the Northeast Corridor and the upcoming North Corridor phases, both construction projects are being bid through the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). On Oct. 2, 2008, Sunesis Construction from West Chester, Ohio, submitted the lowest accurate bid to secure the Cultural Trail Northeast Corridor job. It is anticipated that the Northeast Corridor hardscape will be complete by late 2009 with plantings installed in spring 2010. Visit www.IndyCulturalTrail.org for more information and to download a map showing the specific route of the Northeast Corridor (from North St. and Alabama St. to the Monon Trail).

Illustration: The rendering shows how the Cultural Trail's separated bike and pedestrian path will look along Mass Ave east of College Ave. See more before and after renderings.

Volunteer for Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

On Saturday, Nov. 1, around 2,500 participants will run by the Cultural Trail in the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. If you're interested in supporting this great event that showcases many of Indy's great monumental places, we need volunteers to help with our water stop on the corner of New York and Alabama streets. To volunteer, please call Gail Payne, 317.713.3333 or e-mail Gail@IndyCulturalTrail.org.

Indianapolis Downtown Inc. Providing Maintenance Management

"The Cultural Trail must be just as much of a world-class amenity 50 years from now as it is today," Brian Payne, president of Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), has said on numerous occasions. For this reason, the Cultural Trail's $50.35 million budget includes a $5 million maintenance endowment that will be held at CICF in perpetuity for the Cultural Trail's longterm maintenance.

With one half-mile completed, the Cultural Trail has partnered with Indianapolis Downtown Inc. (IDI) to manage the Alabama St. maintenance contracts through 2009. Anne Maschmeyer, IDI's Beautification Manager, will coordinate with the Cultural Trail management team, City of Indianapolis and other private contractors to maintain the Trail. Together, IDI and the Cultural Trail are working on maintenance standards that are comparable or above expectations in other downtown areas.

"IDI has demonstrated over time how much effort it takes to keep downtown Indianapolis looking clean and beautiful, which differentiates Indianapolis from many major metropolitan downtowns," said Payne. "It is important that we pay particular attention to how it is maintained so that it will be a legacy for future generations to enjoy."

Want to help? For every two dollars you give, the Margot L. and Robert S. Eccles Charitable Fund, a CICF Fund, will match your donation to the Cultural Trail maintenance endowment with another dollar. This match is part of Mrs. Eccles $2 million pledge to the Cultural Trail Maintenance Endowment. Please contact us today to make a gift!

Photo: Now that IDI is on board, Brian Payne won't have to spend as much time picking up glass and trash off the Trail, like he's shown doing in this photo. Welcome Anne!

Cultural Trail Connects to New Bike Lanes

On October 15, Mayor Ballard formally announced that Indianapolis will strive to be a "bike friendly city" by introducing new bike lanes on Michigan St. and New York St. Construction is already underway and the lanes are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail will provide connectivity between the city's major greenway trails, such as the Monon Trail, and the bike lanes. This will allow cyclists to safely and easily commute to work from across the region or take short trips within the downtown area on dedicated paths. 

For more information on the City's bike lanes plans contact the City of Indianapolis Department for Public Works or DPW bike lane coordinator, Andy Lutz, 317.327.4891 or alutz@indygov.org.

Photo: DPW Director David Sherman (right) joins Mayor Ballard in announcing the City's bikeways plans.

Next Brown Bag Meeting: Oct. 28, Indianapolis City Market

Please join us for the next public meeting to learn about the latest and greatest about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail at 12 noon, Tues., Oct. 28, in the east wing of the Indianapolis City Market, 222 E. Market St. on the corner of Alabama and Market streets. Grab lunch from any of the fine food vendors inside City Market. Parking available in nearby gravel lots or at street meters.

The Cultural Trail holds monthly "brown bag" lunch meetings the fourth Tuesday of each month to give anyone the opportunity to learn about this transformational project.  The November meeting will be held Nov. 25, 12 noon, at the Center for Inquiry IPS #2, 725 N. New Jersey St. in the Media Room. Parking is available in the lot on the corner of North and New Jersey streets or along nearby streets.

For more information about the monthly meetings and other events, please call 317.713.3333 or visit www.IndyCulturalTrail.org/get-involved.