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The city of Carmel announced plans Friday for a $13 million expansion of the Monon Greenway that is scheduled to begin next spring in Midtown.
The expansion will widen the Monon Greenway from 14 feet to 140 feet between Walnut Street and City Center Drive—for about two-tenths of a mile—immediately south of the previous expansion that transformed the trail into Monon Boulevard.
The expanded trail will have playgrounds and public gathering spaces, according to a news release from the city. The project will be flanked to the west by the future Great American Songbook Museum and to the east by a redevelopment project that the city hopes to include a food hall.
The expansion will be funded with bonds and $500,000 from the Carmel Redevelopment Commission Urban Parks Fund, which will partially cover the cost of the playground.
The city plans to put the project out for bid in spring 2024. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The previous Monon Greenway expansion, completed in 2019, transformed a 12-foot-wide path into a 140-foot-wide area from City Center Drive northward to 1st Street Southwest—a stretch of roughly a half-mile.
Monon Boulevard includes dedicated lanes for bicyclists, buffer zones, sidewalks, green spaces, one-way streets with parking on both sides of the trail and Midtown Plaza.
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Interesting timing given a new admin coming in Monday.
Wonder what Parks thinks about the use of their money? And more debt
You mean more investing?
How is this debt? Public parks and gathering spaces are always good for quality of life in an area. the is what makes Carmel so attractive to young families and business relocating their HQ’s to Hamilton CO.
David and Kevin, the article says “the expansion will be funded with bonds and $500k from the Carmel Redevelopment Commission Urban Parks fund…” Bonds represent debt for munis. You can argue that this is worthy “investing” and add to “quality of life” but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s debt.
How is this debt? Funny. Apparently you didn’t go to Carmel Clay Schools and learn if you borrow money that is debt.
The “Urban Parks Fund” is the money Parks is suing the CRC over. Money is supposed to go to Parks for everyone’s use not to landscape developers projects.
Another great project for Carmel.
Cool,the whole Metro is doing nice things to enhance the quality of life. Keep it coming.
Who is vetting the bids from the construction companies? $13M sounds like a lot for a playground and open space project. Also, when has a Carmel project come in on budget?
Never.