INDIANAPOLIS — On Tuesday, city and state leaders broke ground on Marion County’s portion of the Nickel Plate Trail.
It will convert the Nickel Plate Railroad bed to a multi-modal trail from 42nd Street and the Monon Trail, east to the existing Nickel Plate, north to 96th Street.
Work on the trail is expected to start this fall and be complete by spring of 2025.
"It will spur economic development and improve the area’s walkability and connectivity to the greater community, and I am thrilled to welcome the expansion of the Nickel Plate Trail to District 3," City-County Councilor Dan Boots said.
The $14.8 million investment into the Nickel Plate Trail came from a $5 million IDNR Next Level Trails program award, $1.2 million in READi funds, $1.75 million from the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) of Indianapolis, and thousands of local donations.
When combined with the Midland Trace and Monon trails, the Nickel Plate Trail will create a 41-mile loop.