In 1999, Indianapolis officially designates six Cultural Districts: Massachusetts Avenue, Fountain Square, The Canal & White River State Park, Indiana Avenue, the Wholesale District, and Broad Ripple. Cultural Development Commissioners (CDC) were charged with finding ways to promote the city’s cultural assets. Brian Payne, president of Central Indiana Community Foundation, was appointed as a CDC and believed the cultural districts could be connected by an urban version of the Monon Trail for both pedestrians and bicyclists.
From 2001-2003, $4 million was raised for initial design studies and concepts. In 2004, the City of Indianapolis gave permission to use city right-of-way to build the Trail. The City has continued to be a partner and champion of the Trail. After an international RFP in 2005, local firms, R.W. Armstrong & Rundell Ernstberger Associates are hired as construction management and lead architecture design teams, respectively.
Eugene and Marilyn Glick generously commit $15 million as a lead gift, and in 2007 the ground-breaking of the Trail took place at the southeast corner of Alabama and North streets.
In 2010, the Trail was awarded a $20.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant.
In May 2013, the 8 miles of Trail are complete and the official grand opening celebration took place.
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick is an 8-mile world class urban bike and pedestrian path in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The Trail was founded by Brian Payne, president and CEO of Central Indiana Community Foundation, in partnership with the City of Indianapolis, and designed by Kevin Osburn and his team at Rundell Ernstberger Associates. Funding for the $63 million dollar project came from local Indianapolis philanthropy and federal transportation grants. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail seamlessly connects neighborhoods, cultural districts and entertainment amenities while serving as the downtown hub for central Indiana’s vast greenway system.
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is managed by a nonprofit, Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc (ICT Inc). ICT Inc works to thoughtfully manage, maintain and continue to grow and improve all aspects of the Trail to ensure it continues to exist as a world-class public space for residents and visitors of Indianapolis.
TIMELINE
April 2007
Official groundbreaking
East Corridor construction begins
2008
East Corridor construction complete
2009
Northeast Corridor construction begins
North Corridor construction begins
2010
North Corridor construction complete
Northeast Corridor construction complete
2011
Capitol & Alabama Corridors complete
Southeast Corridor construction begins
West Corridor construction begins
Central Corridor construction begins
2012
Southeast Corridor construction complete
West Corridor construction complete
Central Corridor construction complete
May 2013
Official Grand Opening “Get Down On It” Celebration!