Exploring the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Downtown’s Walkable Urban Oasis
Kären Haley, Executive Director of Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc. says, “It's made it a bikeable city, it's made it a walkable city, it's made a place where people are face to face instead of in their cars. That's why I think it really has helped inspire a new culture in Indianapolis, and really has set the mold for what people want in their city.”
The Cultural Trail was devised in the early 2000s as a way to connect the city's newly created downtown cultural districts. But in order to build the Trail, the city needed to make a not-so-insignificant sacrifice.
“The city made a decision to give up on busy city streets, a lane of vehicle traffic to give it back to pedestrians to build a Cultural Trail. I think it really should be celebrated that Indianapolis could prioritize pedestrians and people in a land that is generally filled with cars,” states Haley.
While the Trail sits on public land, its development, maintenance and funding are all managed by the nonprofit organization, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc.
“We don't receive any funding from the city to continually operate and maintain the Cultural Trail, which generally is a shock to most people,” says Haley. “We're really grateful for our donors and our partners and our funders to allow us to continue to bring this true gift to the city of Indianapolis.”
Public Art and Green Space Along the Cultural Trail
And like any thoughtful gift, the Trail’s designers considered even the smallest details.
“The Cultural Trail is designed with safety and accessibility in mind, first and foremost. There's lighting along the entire Cultural Trail. That might not seem like much, but the lights are always on. The wayfinding is also available in the paver patterns that you see on the Cultural Trail. It's very repetitious, and so you just keep following the brick pavers. There's also cues within the pavers as to where the trail is going, if it's turning, or if you're coming to a part that might have more conflict with vehicles,” Haley explains.
But the Trail is more than a simple path. It's also an open-air art gallery.
“The design team and the founders really wanted to highlight how Indianapolis is a cultural capital, how it's an artistic capital, and how you can be in this community and thrive and be surrounded by public art so that you would have something to see and do and have a dynamic experience when you're on the Cultural Trail,” says Haley.
While the art will wow you, the urban oasis will also soothe you.
“The landscaping is such an important part of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail,” explains Haley. “In the downtown of a major city in the United States, you are surrounded by greenery, by trees, by animals, by insects; we've seen bunnies hopping across the trail. Having a place that is welcoming and has a natural element to it softens the harshness of the urban landscape.”
Why the Cultural Trail Matters to Indianapolis Residents
Of course, like any well-traveled public space, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail means many things to many people.
One pedestrian says, “It has lights on it, so it's safe to walk when it's dark, as well as, [my dog] appreciates that there’s nice green space downtown.”
“For me, there's too much concrete or too much city. We need to remember: we're on Earth, Mother Earth, the green, and bring it back into the city,” another pedestrian expresses.
“The best part is, it shows you the entire city, so you can literally get to any point of the city from the Cultural Trail,” says a pedestrian. His friend mentions, “Also, there is a huge safety point. To be able to get off the roads from cars, it's multi-use and it's safe.”
“We talk to people from all over who live here, who’ve moved here, who have grown up here their whole lives. They all say, ‘I can't imagine what my commute would be like if this wasn't here’ or ‘what my neighborhood would be like if this wasn't here.’ There'd be more vehicle lanes of traffic. There’d be more hardscape, there’d be more asphalt, there’d be less lighting, there'd be less gardens, there'd be less investment in public art. It probably would look like any other city that you go to,” Haley concludes.
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The above video is a clip from Journey Indiana from WTIU. You can watch more segments and full episodes at pbs.org/show/journey-indiana/
