Cultural Trail Ribbon Cutting Saturday, June 7

You won’t want to miss this historic occasion: the ribbon-cutting of the first half-mile of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick!

When:  Sat., June 7, 9 a.m.
Where: Market St. and Alabama St.

Mayor Greg Ballard, CICF President Brian Payne and others will give remarks and announce new, exciting developments. Bring the kids, your friends, family, and neighbors and help us celebrate this momentous occasion. There will be a kids' one-block fun run and a five-block walking tour of the completed portion for everyone.

At 10 a.m., stick around for "Divers and Dragons on the Cultural Trail," a free celebration of the upcoming U.S. Olympic Diving Team Trials on the northeast corner of North St. and Alabama St. in the English Foundation Building parking lot.

Photo Right: The finished Cultural Trail near Ohio St. and Alabama St.

Center for Inquiry Leverages Location on Trail

The Center for Inquiry (CFI), an IPS school located on the northeast corner of Walnut St. and New Jersey St., on the soon-to-be-constructed Northeast Corridor, has taken its location on the Cultural Trail to heart. The CFI Parent Teacher Student Association commissioned a public art piece located near the trail on the south side of the school.

Join CFI on Tuesday, May 27, at 10 a.m., on Walnut St. & New Jersey St. for the dedication of "Leaves of Grass II" by Brian Ferriby (photo right). The piece is a 13-foot high metal sculpture. This effort was made possible with the generous support of a GINI-IMAGINE grant and numerous school volunteers. A special thanks to Shiel Sexton Construction for assistance with the artwork installation.

Ferriby was selected from a public competition, following a national search of artists. CFI students were actively involved with the project, using the artist's design within the school curriculum.

The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) also asked CFI students to develop ways to promote the Cultural Trail. Students developed a video, a rap song, and this Web site featuring some our downtown’s greatest independent restaurants located on or near the Cultural Trail.

Raymond Park and George Washington Middle Schools also created videos to promote the Cultural Trail to peers and community residents. Check www.IndyCulturalTrail.org soon to view these fun and creative projects.

Cultural Trail featured in Northwest Airlines WorldTraveler Magazine

If you’ve flown Northwest Airlines recently, you cannot miss the 18-page spread in its in-flight magazine promoting Indianapolis, courtesy of the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association. The full page article, “A Cultural Coup” shows a large rendering of the Cultural Trail and opens with: “Indianapolis, home of the Indy 500, is well known for its ‘zoom’ and ‘va-room.’ And now there is development afoot that will enhance Indy’s reputation as an innovation – and green – capital of culture.”

Read it online: http://digitalnwaworldtraveler.com/. Indy's article begins on page 79 with Cultural Trail article on page 83 - 84.

May Lunch Meeting: May 27

Location: Double Eagle Café in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 650 N. Meridian St. (parking available in parking lot west of building or in lot across Walnut Street, north of building). Instead of bringing your brown bag, try something from Double Eagle Café.

Our monthly, fourth Tuesday of the month meeting begins at 12 noon and ends by 1 p.m. Bring your questions and curiosity to learn more about this exciting project.

Next Lunch Meeting: June 24
Location: Indianapolis Marion County Public Library -- Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., Goodrich/Hook Room in the Learning Curve Area, 2nd floor.

For a 2008 schedule, visit www.IndyCulturalTrail.org/GetInvolved.

Next Bike Tour: Sat., July 12, 10 am to 12 pm

Take a tour of the entire eight-mile route and learn how the Trail came together, how it will impact our city, and get the latest on its progress. Typically, bike tours are held the first Saturday of each month through October. In July, we are bumping the tour back a week due to the 4th of July holiday.

Tours are free and limited to 20 cyclists. From August through October, tours will resume on the first Saturday. Please register in advance.

For more information or to register, visit www.IndyCulturalTrail.org/GetInvolved.

Construction Update

The next two corridors will begin back-to-back construction this fall:
Northeast Corridor (North St. and Alabama St. to 10th St. and the Monon Trail) – tentatively September construction

North Corridor (North St. and Alabama St. to Indiana Ave. and Blackford St.) – tentatively October construction

For more information about the construction schedule visit www.indyculturaltrail.org/timeline or call 317.713.3333.