Monon Trail

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Monon Trail is a rail trail in Indiana.

It is used as a bicycle and pedestrian trail and runs from Indianapolis, Indiana (including Broad Ripple) into Carmel, Indiana, a length of 15.2 miles (24.5 km). The Indianapolis portion was completed in 1999 and the Carmel portion was opened between 2001 and 2002. The trail uses a portion of the Chicago-Indianapolis main line of the former Monon Railroad, which was abandoned between Indianapolis and Delphi, Indiana in 1987.

The Monon Trail is successful in two big ways. One is that it provides a means of inexpensive self-directed fun and fitness activities such as walking, biking, etc. with lots of support from retail shops. Also the Monon provides some strong means of community economic development, such as supporting local retail shops, and provides an attraction for developers to build and people to live along and near the pathway. Such building adds much value to communities by strong real estate developments.

In the future, the town of Westfield, Indiana plans to extend the trail north over the abandoned Monon right of way toward Sheridan, Indiana.