New Albany Designates South Monon Freedom Trail as Most Impactful Regional Project to Drive Growth and Improve Quality of Life
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The state of Indiana recently launched an effort designed to accelerate the state's economic growth. The $500 million Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or “READI”, will allow cities, towns, and counties to partner on projects and fuel investment in quality of place efforts.
The City of New Albany has designated the Monon South Freedom Trail as the most impactful regional project to drive growth and improve quality of life. The City of New Albany has submitted a multi-faceted, $20.5 million regional trails and parks initiative in its application for READI funds, consisting of three major components:
1. Purchase of the South Monon Freedom Trail
The first part of the City of New Albany’s grant application asks for $5.5 million for the purchase of the CSX railway from New Albany to Bedford, the first step in creating the South Monon Freedom Trail. The City of New Albany is excited and humbled to have an opportunity to not only bring a new amenity to the region, but to reimagine the former New Albany – Salem railroad while paying homage to its significance as part of the Underground Railroad. The railway served as a verified escape route serving as a pathway to freedom for many enslaved African Americans traveling both in train cars and following the tracks by foot.
In 2017, CSX abandoned its rail line from the northern edge of New Albany to the East Fork of the White River, south of Bedford. This created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop a new regional, 68-mile-long trail stretching through 5 Indiana counties (Clark, Floyd, Lawrence, Orange, and Washington), and connecting nine Indiana towns and cities (Bedford, Mitchell, Saltillo, Campbellsburg, Salem, New Pekin, Borden, Orleans, and New Albany). If completed, this would be the longest, continuous recreation trail in Indiana, creating immense recreation opportunities for the region.
2. Connecting the Ohio River Greenway to the South Monon Freedom Trail and Beyond
The second part of the City of New Albany’s grant application asks for $12 million in funding to connect the hugely popular Ohio River Greenway to the start of the South Monon Freedom Trail. This connector would tie in the 68 mile long South Monon Freedom Trail into the current Ohio River Greenway trails system, which further connects into Clarksville and the future Origin Park, Jeffersonville, and the Louisville Trail Loop System.
Without this connector being completed, the high-level of pedestrian and bicycle traffic from the Ohio River Greenway Trail, Louisville Loop System, and surrounding parks would not be able to connect with the proposed regional South Monon Freedom Trail.
3. Completing Trail Construction in New Albany
The third part of the City of New Albany’s grant application asks for $3 million in funding to complete the trail construction in the City of New Albany. This funding would allow the city to begin construction of the South Monon Freedom Trail to the edge of Floyd County.
The final component of the City’s application requests that addition READI grant funds be used to further develop new amenities and trail connections along the existing Ohio River Greenway and New Albany Shoreline. The City is in full support of additional funding going to nearby communities and organizations that would further the goal of regional development, by improving parks, trails, and Shoreline development. The completion of the Ohio River Greenway Trail in Jeffersonville, construction of the regional trail in Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties by Radius Indiana, and the development of ORIGIN Park in Clark County will propel the region forward for decades.
A trails feasibility study was recently completed showing the benefits of the project.
The full READI application for grant funding can be found by clicking HERE.
