PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Indy Greenways Full Circle Master Plan- Indianapolis, Indiana

2015 American Trails National and International Awards: Planning/Design (funded with less than $500,000) category.

From November 2012-April 2014, the City of Indianapolis completed its Indy Greenways Full Circle Plan, the new master plan and vision for greenway and trail development in the City. Renowned landscape architect George Kessler first understood the impact of these types of linear connections in his 1900 parkways and boulevards plan. Sheridan’s plan of 1938 envisioned broadening those linkages throughout Marion County. In 1994, Indianapolis created its first Greenways Master Plan. This plan was the genesis of the Indianapolis system, identifying how Kessler and Sheridan’s work could become natural greenways. As such, it focused on building trails into existing natural and abandoned railroad corridors on the city’s more affluent north side, leaving many areas within the city vastly underserved by the greenways. By 2012, there were 60 miles in place.

Since the first greenways plan was done in 1994, many things have changed in the City. There has been a resurgence of neighborhood development with residents moving back into older neighborhoods at the same time as new housing was expanding into the suburbs. There has been an increased awareness of the need for better protection and use of our waterways as a resource. There is growing bicycle culture that has developed within the city emphasizing the desire for transportation routes and alternatives. New mass transit routes have been planned to better connect the region, and more and more emphasis has been placed on providing bike and pedestrian facilities throughout the county. In 1994, there were many opponents to the early trail development. Today, citizens are demanding more trails, more connectivity, and more equitable distribution of greenways throughout the city.

With this context in mind, this master plan establishes a new vision for Indy Greenways---one that deals with transportation, environmental stewardship, economic development, access and connectivity, and interagency coordination. Most importantly, perhaps, is that it extends the greenways system into all segments of the City, more than doubling the amount of people who will live within a half-mile walk of a trail.

Public Driven Planning Process- The planning process for this master plan was truly driven by public input and engagement. An extensive public engagement process included:

·  14 public meetings and over 30 different presentations to various neighborhood and stakeholder groups.

·  Special events including Mayor’s Polar Pedal Bike Rides, National Bike to Work Day, and the Greenways Day at City Market.

·  Televised presentations to the Indy Parks Board and the Greenways Commission

·  Distributions of project materials and FAQs to community centers, libraries, and other public facilities

·  Use of social media including project blog/website, Facebook, and Survey Monkey.

·  Use of a project office in the old Boulevard Station train depot along the Monon Trail with weekly office hours to meet with groups, stakeholders and the general public

This plan gave residents unprecedented access to the planning process and project team and resulted in a plan that was adopted with wide-spread community support and NO opposition.

The Full Circle Plan- The result of the planning process, the Full Circle Plan, outlines the long-term vision for greenway development in Indianapolis. The plan outlines a system of 252 miles of greenways with over 139 miles of new trail development, much of which reaches into areas of the county that have long been underserved by the greenway system. Specifically, the Full Circle Plan:

·  Outlines an expansion of the greenways system into the ring townships that have been underserved by greenway development---more than doubling the geographic and population service areas.

·  Identifies improvements, access, and new connections along the existing greenways.

·  Establishes nine new greenway corridors.

·  Provides four new greenway routes from the outer townships to the downtown area.

·  Provides east-west and north-south connectivity in the ring townships, creating more localized connections within each township.

·  Provides multi-modal connections between the four flagship parks in the corners of the City---Eagle Creek Park, Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, Southeastway Park and Southwestway Park. These connections provide a 64 mile shared-use path that circles the City and provides connections to eleven local and regional trails in the adjoining counties.

·  Provides greenway connections to over 80 Indy Parks facilities.

·  Provides regional connections to eleven trail systems beyond Marion County.

·  Provides administrative and policy recommendations for future operations of the greenways.

·  Establishes design standards for the overall system that address safety, accessibility, and funding eligibility.

·  Provides an overall network that is integrated into the other major transportation components of the city---such as the Indianapolis Bikeways and future Indy Connect rapid transit lines.

Other Plan Elements- In addition to the new trails and greenways, the plan also included several new tools including a complete set of Design Standards that outline the standards for all new trail development and facilities in Indy Greenways, an Economic Impact Review of each existing and proposed greenway segment to identify the potential economic gains to be expected in the new trail segments, Implementation Strategies for both physical and policy recommendations of the plan, Action Plan Matrices for all new physical planning, construction, programming and policy implementation, Maintenance Guidelines for expected levels of care of the proposed system, and a Zoning Classification Map for reference in the new Indy Re-zone zoning update which allows the City to designate new trail implementation in developing areas of the City.

Conclusion

The Indy Greenways Full Circle Plan is impressive in both its broadness and its specificity. The plan will dramatically change the City of Indianapolis and connect it like never before---to neighborhoods, community centers, civic destinations, public transit, and park facilities. This plan, now identified in Indianapolis Mayor Jeffrey Ballard’s Strategic Plan for the city, will become the center piece for creating a more connected, active, and vibrant city!