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Indianapolis Cultural Trail

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail, officially the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick, is an 8.1-mile-long (13.0 km) urban shared-use path and linear park located in the vicinity of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The trail is often compared to other popular bicycle and pedestrian paths across the U.S. and has inspired similar projects throughout the U.S. and Canada.[1][2][3][4][5]

Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick
AbbreviationICT
Formation2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Legal status501(c)(3) organization non-profit
Purposeurban linear park; shared-use path
Headquarters132 W. Walnut St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Location
Coordinates39°46′36.7″N 86°09′39.4″W / 39.776861°N 86.160944°W / 39.776861; -86.160944
Executive Director
Kären Haley
Main organ
Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc.
Budget
$1 million (2017)[1]
Staff
10 (2017)[1]
Volunteers
4,500 (2017)[1]
Websitewww.indyculturaltrail.org

Description

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The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is an urban multi-use trail.[6][7][8] The trail is identifiable with tinted concrete pavers, providing visual continuity.[9] Street furniture, trash receptacles, signage, and lighting are also consistent throughout the trail's route.

Route

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Map 
Interactive map of Indianapolis Cultural Trail route
 
Trail-branded signage on Alabama St.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is composed of a downtown loop and three spurs. The northeastern spur follows Massachusetts Ave., terminating at its connection to the Monon Trail near 10th and Bellefontaine streets. The southeastern spur follows Virginia Ave., terminating at its intersection with Prospect and Shelby streets in the Fountain Square neighborhood. A two-way cycle track along Shelby St. links the trail with the Pleasant Run Greenway. A short southern spur follows Capitol Ave., connecting the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, terminating at South St.[9] In 2020 plans started for a two-mile extension to the trail which bring areas of Indiana Avenue and South Street in closer proximity to the city center.[10]

The trail intersects with the Canal Walk, a 3-mile long (4.8 km) pedestrian loop flanking the former Indiana Central Canal.[9][11]

Glick Peace Walk

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The walk can be accessed at W Walnut St. between N Meridian St. and N Capitol Ave.[12][13]

Attractions

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Main article: Indianapolis Cultural Districts
 
Downtown Indianapolis skyline from the Blackford St. segment of the trail

Indianapolis has seven designated cultural districts, first established in 1999. The purpose of these designations was to capitalize on cultural institutions within historically significant neighborhoods unique to the city's heritage for economic development and revitalization.  Six of the seven districts are located along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail:[14]

The seventh district, Broad Ripple Village (about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north), is connected to the trail via the Monon Trail.

Public art

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See also: List of public art in Indianapolis and Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis Public Art Collection

As of 2019, there are nine commissioned art installations along the trail:[12]

  • Ann Dancing (Julian Opie)
  • Care/Don’t Care (Jamie Pawlus)
  • Chatham Passage (Sean Derry)
  • Looking Through Windows (Michael Kuschnir)
  • Moving Forward (Donna Sink)
  • Poet’s Place
  • Prairie Modules 1 & 2 (M12)
  • Swarm Street (Acconci Studio)
  • Talking Wall (Bernard Williams)

In addition to commissioned art, the Arts Council of Indianapolis's "Indy Arts Guide" lists 61 pieces of public art along or near the trail as of January 2019.[15]

In August 2018, Citizens Energy Group partnered with the Harrison Center to install 20 artist-designed manhole covers along the trail. The initiative sought to bring public attention to Indianapolis waterways and the $2 billion DigIndy project to address the city's combined sewer overflows.[16]

History

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After 12 years of planning and six years of construction, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick officially opened in 2013.[17] The $62.5 million public-private partnership, spurred by an initial donation of $15 million by philanthropists Gene B. Glick and Marilyn Glick, resulted in 8 miles (13 km) of urban bike and pedestrian corridors linking the city's cultural districts with neighborhoods, IUPUI, and every significant arts, cultural, heritage, sports and entertainment venue downtown.[18][19][20][21][22] [12]

Indiana Pacers Bikeshare

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Main article: Indiana Pacers Bikeshare
 
Indiana Pacers Bikeshare station near the trail at West Georgia Street and South Capital Street

Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. operates, maintains, and promotes the city's public bicycle-sharing system, Indiana Pacers Bikeshare, consisting of 50 stations and 525 bicycles.[23] The Cultural Trail, in partnership with BCycle and the Herbert Simon Family Foundation, launched Pacers Bikeshare on April 22, 2014, with an initial 29 stations and 251 bicycles.[1] An expansion was completed on September 5, 2019, nearly doubling available bikes and docking stations.[24] About half of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail's annual $1 million budget is allocated to managing the program, which is self-sustaining through bike rental fees, annual memberships, grants, and sponsorships.[1]

Impact

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According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, early grant applications predicted $863 million in development generated within a 0.5 miles (0.80 km) radius of the trail.[7] An Indiana University Public Policy Institute report released in March 2015 found that assessed value of properties within 500 feet (150 m) of the trail increased by $1 billion from 2008 to 2014. Other key finds from the report:[25][26]

  • Trail usage along the trail exceeds that of most other Indianapolis trails and greenways
  • Users feel safe on the trail
  • Exercise and recreation is the primary reason for use
  • Businesses located on the trail have hired additional employees
  • Property values have increased along and near the trail
  • Users reported spending and economic impact tied to trail usage

The trail has also been considered a boon for convention business and inspired interest from cities throughout the U.S. and Europe.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Schoettle, Anthony (November 2, 2017). "Cultural Trail becomes unique drawing card for conventions and trade shows". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Harrison, Steve (February 18, 2018). "Charlotte wants to make SouthPark safer for walkers, bikers". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  3. ^ Litt, Steven (October 19, 2015). "Lorain Avenue Bikeway concept gets a big boost from Cleveland planning commission (photos)". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Litt, Steven (August 21, 2019). "5280 Trail aims to be Denver'sanswer to New York City's High Line". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  5. ^ Bryant, Tim (January 23, 2019). "Chouteau Greenway project aims to knit St. Louis neighborhoods together – north, south, east and west". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "Indianapolis Cultural Trail in Indiana | TrailLink". www.traillink.com. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Harry, Lou (May 4, 2013). "Defining the Indianapolis Cultural Trail". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  8. ^ "About Indiana Pacer Bikshare". Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c Rail-Trails: Illinois, Indiana, & Ohio. Birmingham, Alabama: Wilderness Press. 2017. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-89997-848-2.
  10. ^ Verderame, Jyoti (2021-03-29). "Indianapolis Cultural Trail". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  11. ^ "The Canal and White River State Park". www.downtownindy.org. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Foxio. "Indianapolis Cultural Trail". Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Glick Peace Walk Walnut St. between Meridian St. and Capitol Ave. Indianapolis, IN Trail - MapQuest". www.mapquest.com. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "Downtown Indy Cultural Districts". DowntownIndy. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  15. ^ "Indy Arts Guide". Indianapolis Arts Council. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  16. ^ Bahr, Sarah (July 24, 2018). "These 20 manhole covers will catch your eye on the Cultural Trail". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  17. ^ Simmons, Andrew (March 4, 2014). "In Indianapolis, a Bike Path to Progress". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  18. ^ "Trail Facts". Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  19. ^ Foxio (June 16, 2013). "Indianapolis Cultural Trail". Indyculturaltrail.org. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  20. ^ "Project for Public Spaces". pps.org. May 10, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  21. ^ Burow, Sue; Majors, Jessica (March 2015). "Assessment of the Impact of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 8, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. ^ "The new Indianapolis Cultural Trail is a masterpiece of bike-friendly design Cleveland should emulate". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  23. ^ "About". Indiana Pacers Bikeshare. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  24. ^ Hwang, Kellie (September 5, 2019). "Ready to ride: Nearly 300 more Pacers Bikeshare bikes are available to rent". The Indianapolis Star. Gannett. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  25. ^ Burow, Sue; Majors, Jessica (March 2015). "Assessment of the Impact of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick" (PDF). Indiana University Public Policy Institute. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  26. ^ Burow, Sue; Majors, Jessica (2015). "Reasons to Love the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick" (PDF). Indiana University Public Policy Institute. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
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