Governor Eric J. Holcomb joined officials from the town of Zionsville and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Wednesday to officially open a recently completed section of the Big-4 Rail Trail.
“The Next Level Trails program is about creating quality of place through connectivity,” Gov. Holcomb said. “The Big-4 Rail Trail is another piece of the puzzle in building a statewide trail network that makes Indiana stand out as a place to live, work, play, study and stay.”
As part of the ceremony, Carmel Mayor and RTC board member Jim Brainard formally presented Holcomb with the Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champion award. Holcomb is the 40th honoree and the first acting governor to be recognized as a Rail-Trail Champion.
Next Level Trails (NLT) awarded Zionsville $1,812,295 in March 2021 for a 1.79-mile extension of the trail. Today’s ribbon cutting marks the completion of its southern section, which connects to Overley-Worman Park and the Vonterra neighborhood at Zionsville Road. The project also included rehabilitation of a bridge over Starkey Avenue.
The Zionsville project is one of four NLT awards announced along the Big-4 corridor, which is named for the Big Four Railroad that was once headquartered in Indianapolis. The other NLT projects along the corridor include:
- Town of Colfax, $1.7 million for 4.7 miles
- City of Lebanon, $2.5 million for 5.7 miles
- Town of Whitestown, $1.2 million for 1.5 miles
“The extension of the Big-4 Rail Trail in Zionsville is a prime example of the impact that dedicated state-level funding can have in delivering the economic and quality of life benefits of trails to more people,” said Ryan Chao, president of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. “The Next Level Trails Program that Gov. Holcomb has championed, and that has funded several segments of the Big-4 Rail Trail, is a model for states across the country. It’s a vital, sustainable funding source that levels the playing field for rural, suburban, and urban trail projects – investing in infrastructure that connects people and places.”
Since 2011, the Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champions Award has honored individuals who have made significant contributions to the rail-trail movement through their hard work, volunteerism, and support. The award is named in honor of the late rail-trail philanthropist Jeffrey L. Doppelt. Learn more about the nation’s Rail-Trail Champions at rtc.li/trail-champions.
As part of Holcomb’s Next Level Connections initiative, NLT is the largest infusion of trails funding in state history. The $150 million program is administered by the DNR and facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. To date, $120 million has been awarded to build 190 miles of trails throughout Indiana. Nine NLT projects are fully complete for a total of 24.6 miles.