Indianapolis Cultural Trail facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | ICT |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2008 |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) organization non-profit |
| Purpose | urban linear park; shared-use path |
| Headquarters | 132 W. Walnut St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
| Location |
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Executive Director
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Kären Haley |
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Main organ
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Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. |
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Budget
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$1 million (2017) |
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Staff
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10 (2017) |
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Volunteers
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4,500 (2017) |
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is a special path in Indianapolis, Indiana. It's officially called the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick. This trail is about 8.1-mile-long (13.0 km) and is like a park that goes through the city. It's designed for people to walk, run, or bike.
Many people compare the Indianapolis Cultural Trail to other famous paths in the U.S. and Canada. It has even inspired other cities to create similar projects. It's a great way to explore downtown Indianapolis and its interesting neighborhoods.
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What is the Indianapolis Cultural Trail?
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is a unique path for everyone to use. You can easily spot it because it has special colored concrete on the ground. This makes the whole trail look the same and easy to follow.
Along the trail, you'll find matching benches, trash cans, signs, and lights. Everything is designed to look consistent and make your experience better.
Exploring the Trail's Path
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail has a main loop around downtown. It also has three smaller paths, called spurs, that branch off.
One spur goes along Massachusetts Ave.. It connects to the Monon Trail near 10th and Bellefontaine streets. Another spur follows Virginia Ave. and ends in the Fountain Square neighborhood. There's also a special two-way bike path along Shelby Street that links to the Pleasant Run Greenway.
A short spur goes down Capitol Ave. This part connects the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. In 2020, there were plans to make the trail even longer. This extension would connect areas like Indiana Avenue and South Street closer to the city center.
The trail also crosses the Canal Walk. This is another path that is about 3-mile long (4.8 km) and goes around the old Indiana Central Canal.
The Glick Peace Walk
You can find the Glick Peace Walk section of the trail on West Walnut Street. It's located between North Meridian Street and North Capitol Avenue. This is a peaceful part of the trail to enjoy.
Fun Places Along the Trail
Indianapolis has seven special areas called cultural districts. These were created in 1999 to show off the city's history and unique places. Six of these seven districts are right along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail:
- Canal and White River State Park
- Fountain Square
- Indiana Avenue
- Market East
- Mass Ave
- Wholesale District
The seventh district, Broad Ripple Village, is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north. You can reach it from the trail by using the Monon Trail.
Amazing Art on the Trail
As of 2019, there are nine special art pieces made just for the trail. These include:
- Ann Dancing by Julian Opie
- Care/Don’t Care by Jamie Pawlus
- Chatham Passage by Sean Derry
- Looking Through Windows by Michael Kuschnir
- Moving Forward by Donna Sink
- Poet’s Place
- Prairie Modules 1 & 2 by M12
- Swarm Street by Acconci Studio
- Talking Wall by Bernard Williams
Besides these, the Arts Council of Indianapolis lists 61 more public art pieces. These are either on or very close to the trail. In 2018, some artists even designed special manhole covers for the trail. This project helped people learn about Indianapolis waterways.
How the Trail Was Built
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail took a long time to plan and build. It was planned for 12 years and built over six years. The trail officially opened in 2013.
This big project cost $62.5 million. A large part of the money, $15 million, was a gift from Gene and Marilyn Glick. They were philanthropists, meaning they gave money to good causes. The trail now connects cultural districts, neighborhoods, and many important places downtown.
The same group that manages the Cultural Trail also runs the city's bike-sharing system. It's called Indiana Pacers Bikeshare. This system has 50 stations and 525 bikes that you can rent.
Pacers Bikeshare started on April 22, 2014, with fewer bikes and stations. It grew bigger on September 5, 2019, almost doubling its size. About half of the Cultural Trail's yearly budget goes to running this bike-sharing program. The program pays for itself through rental fees, memberships, and donations.
How the Trail Helps Indianapolis
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail has had a big positive impact on the city. Experts predicted that the trail would bring in a lot of new development. A report from Indiana University found that properties near the trail increased in value by $1 billion between 2008 and 2014.
The report also found other important things:
- Many people use the Cultural Trail more than other paths in Indianapolis.
- People feel safe when they are on the trail.
- Most people use the trail for exercise and fun.
- Businesses along the trail have hired more employees.
- Property values have gone up near the trail.
- People using the trail spend money, which helps the local economy.
The trail has also been good for attracting conventions and visitors to Indianapolis. Other cities in the U.S. and Europe have even looked at the trail as an example for their own projects.
See Also
