Creating jobs: Trail prepares to bid three corridors

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick received $20.5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation in February this year in a nationally competitive grant process. The funding is part of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Why is the Cultural Trail one of only two projects in Indiana to receive this funding?  It's creating jobs: short-term through construction and long-term through new, Trail-inspired economic investment.

Each of the last three corridors of construction will be bid through the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) in the next few months. Download the latest INDOT 18-month letting list and search for these project numbers:
Southeast Corridor (Virginia Ave.) = INDOT project number 0902007, bids Dec. 8, 2010
Central Corridor (Washington St.) = INDOT project number 0902003, bids Jan. 12, 2011
West Corridor (Blackford Ave.) = INDOT project number 0902004, bids Mar. 9, 2011 (date subject to change)

Only pre-qualified certified companies or disadvantaged-business-enterprises (DBE) are eligible to bid on the construction projects.  Click here to learn more about becoming a pre-qualified company or contact Mike Rowe, Prequalification Auditor, (317) 232-5096 or e-mail mrowe@indot.in.gov.

Glick Peace Walk receives Monunmental Affair Award

The 33rd annual A Monumental Affair Awards, representing the most significant visual and physical enhancements in Marion County, presented the coveted Monumental Award to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail's Glick Peace Walk as the most significant project of the year.

"The Glick Peace walk has taken a barren street and transformed it into a tree-lined boulevard open to pedestrians and bicyclists,” said David Forsell, president of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc., which presents the annual Monumental Affair event. “It has introduced a unique monument to a city of monuments; created a new connection between the USS Indianapolis Memorial, downtown canal and the American Legion Mall, and has added value to the acclaimed, and highly anticipated Indianapolis Cultural Trail. The Glick Peace Walk is a beautiful and imaginative place and a unique, new downtown destination for residents and visitors—making a monumental contribution to our city.”

Rundell Ernstberger Associates, the lead designer for both the Cultural Trail and the Glick Peace Walk, submitted the nomination in the Public Art category.  For more information, read the full story or watch this summary video on all 2010 Monumental Affair winners .

Watch "Together in Peace," a story about the making of the Glick Peace Walk by WFYI Productions, produced by Kim Hood Jacobs. The program was recently selected as a finalist in the Best Special Interest and Cultural Programming category of the Indiana Broadcasters Association Spectrum Awards.

Cultural Trail keynote in Calgary, Canada

The Cultural Trail has been making a name for itself around the U.S., in Europe and now Canada. The City of Calgary visited Indianapolis in 2009 specifically to learn more about the Cultural Trail and how the project is not only transforming our city streets but also how this big idea is putting Indianapolis on the map in a whole new way. 

"Like Indianapolis and the Indy 500, Calgary is mainly known for its Calgary Stampede, the largest rodeo in the world, and for our proximity to Banff and the Canadian Rockies for global tourists, who stop, but don't always stay a few days in Calgary," said Graham Gerylo, Business and Policy Planner for the City of Calgary. "We were inspired by the trail's power to not only connect people to significant downtown venues, but how it's also changing the way the community sees itself and what it values."

Cultural Trail founder and President of Central Indiana Community Foundation, Brian Payne, was the keynote speaker at the Calgary Centre City Congress, Oct. 28, to share the story of the Cultural Trail and challenge the 400 city staff and civic leaders in attendance to think big while connecting core assets.

"Even though the project is not yet complete, it's exciting to have the Cultural Trail and City of Indianapolis celebrated for our innovations in livability," said Payne.

Construction update

Nov. 15 - 30:
Capitol Ave. (from Washington St. to Maryland St.)
-- pouring concrete paver base
-- asphalt and pavers will be installed in the spring with landscaping

Alabama St. (from Market St. to Washington St.)
-- preparing to pour concrete drives, paver base
-- asphalt and pavers will be installed in the spring with landscaping

Scheduled completion date: April 2011