Indianapolis Cultural Trail

by Kevin Osburn, ASLA, Rundell Ernstberger Associates, lead designer Indianapolis Cultural Trail

From October 6 – 10, I was invited to attend the Walk 21 Conference in NYC to speak about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. An annual, international conference highlighting Walk 21’s worldwide efforts to promote the development of healthy, sustainable, and efficient communities where people choose to walk. The folks at Walk 21 “have a vision to create a world where people choose and are able to walk as a way to travel, to be healthy and to relax.”

The conference was hosted by the NYC Department of Transportation, who, under the leadership of Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, has implemented an inspiring series of pedestrian and bicycle improvements throughout New York City, including the closure of lanes of traffic on Broadway Avenue from Columbus Circle to Madison Square to create additional space for pedestrians and bicyclists. By making these improvements in a very quick, efficient way, the DOT has seen substantial positive results, including reduced traffic fatalities, more efficient traffic movement, significant increase in the use of bicycles as a mode of transportation, and widespread public support. These projects, combined with the recently opened High Line in the city’s meatpacking district, made New York City the perfect venue for a conference focused on the state of the art in walking and bicycling.

I had the opportunity to speak with people from around the world – Mexico City, Toronto, Bogotá, Copenhagen, London - who were very interested in what we are doing here in Indianapolis. Most were impressed by the scope of the project and the amount of private dollars donated; others were impressed by the design – the use of high end materials, attention to detail, sustainable design practices, and the innovative manner in which the project is being integrated into the city’s grid of streets. All were amazed that the project is actually being built - I heard many stories of well intentioned pedestrian and bicycle projects that are awaiting funding or the political will to move ahead.

Though short, the trip to the Big Apple was refreshing and recharging. The interest and enthusiasm generated by our project confirmed several things for me:

• we are on the right track – with the on-going implementation of the ICT, Indianapolis is on the cutting edge of 21^st century urban design.
• we are building something that is unique to our city – this is not a design that can be easily transported to another city.
• this project will transform the way current and future generations experience and move about our city and is leading the way toward a more sustainable, walkable, healthy, and liveable city.

Click here for a short film about the Walk 21 NYC conference.