INDIANAPOLIS — The Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) recently announced it has received a $25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the Connected Communities Initiative, a collaboration with the City of Indianapolis. The funding will significantly expand and enhance pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in Marion County, with a focus on improving access and opportunity for underappreciated communities.
The grant also includes $5.25 million in matching funds that will be available to leverage an additional $18.75 million in state and federal dollars to construct an additional 25 miles of new greenways.
Highlights of the funded projects include the construction of 5 miles of new B&O Trail to complete a 16.65-mile corridor connecting the Near Westside neighborhoods of Haughville, Hawthorne, and Fairfax to Speedway and Brownsburg to the west, and to the planned Michigan Street protected bike lane into downtown Indianapolis to the east. Other projects include planning, design, and construction of improved pedestrian and bicycle connectivity in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, improving access to the Monon Trail from the east and Pogue’s Run from the north. Other projects include Grassy Creek Trail on the far eastside, Olney Street from Pogue’s Run Trail to IPS School 51, and $5.25 million towards the completion of northeast leg of Fall Creek Trail, Nickel Plate Trail, and Eagle Creek Trail.