INDIANAPOLIS — In February of 2018, a group of Near Eastside neighbors known as Pathways Over Pogue’s (POP) began a fundraising campaign to restore the historic Nowland Avenue Bridge in Spades Park just west of Rural. The oldest Daniel Luten designed bridge in Indianapolis, it had been deteriorating for years to the point it was becoming hazardous to use. It was also holding up progress for the 5.3 mile Pogues Run Trail because it fell along the proposed route and had to be fixed before the trail could move forward. But the City had informed the group that it did not have funds to tackle the bridge and encouraged POP to raise funds itself to get things started.
Early in the process, Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) offered up to a $30,000 match for what POP could raise by June 30. POP raised over $40,000. Combined, $70,0000 will be available to put towards designing the restoration of the bridge. Although the City estimates it will take well into six figures for the design alone, it committed to using the funds as far as they will go. It should be more than enough to provide an accurate estimate for the full cost to design and restore the bridge so that POP can more effectively reach out to potential funders going forward.
Although the trail was part of the original 1994 Greenways Master Plan, almost 25 years later it remains unfinished largely because of the complications and cost associated with repairing the bridge, which is on the Historic Register and must be repaired to historic standards. The trail will go from the Monon and Tenth Street, through Spades and Brookside Parks and end at Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park.
This important milestone was the result of many volunteers, foundations, businesses, and concerned local citizens. The next phase of fundraising to save the Nowland Avenue bridge and complete the Pogues Run Trail has begun. For more info or to get involved, go to Popindy.org, or email info@popindy.org.
