Keep Noblesville Beautiful (KNB) announces that it has received a $1,500 grant from Hamilton County Tourism to support improvements to the swale garden area at the Midland Trace Trailhead along the Midland Trace Trail.
The Midland Trace Trail runs east and west through Hamilton County, connecting Westfield and Noblesville and serving as a popular destination for walkers, runners, and cyclists. The trailhead located along Hazel Dell Parkway provides parking, seasonal bike rentals, and public restrooms for visitors using the trail.
KNB works alongside the Noblesville Parks and Recreation Department to help maintain and beautify the trailhead landscape. In 2020, KNB installed a bicycle sculpture and surrounding landscape to highlight the trailhead as a welcoming gateway for trail users. Since then, volunteers have continued to care for the area through regular workdays focused on weeding, plant care, and refreshing mulch.
The newly awarded grant will help fund improvements to a stormwater swale located near the sculpture. The swale functions as a retention and filtration area for runoff, though over time the vegetation has become overgrown with invasive plants. A controlled burn is planned this spring, followed by the installation of native pollinator plants that will restore the space and improve its environmental benefits.
The upgraded garden will provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and pollinators while also creating an educational experience for trail visitors. A new bench will allow people to relax and enjoy the space, and plant identification signage with QR codes will help visitors learn more about native plants and their importance to local ecosystems.
Another feature of the project will be the installation of a webcam that will live stream the garden during the spring, summer, and fall seasons on the Keep Noblesville Beautiful website. Visitors will be able to observe pollinator activity in real time and learn more about the habitat from anywhere.
Keep Noblesville Beautiful extends its sincere thanks to Hamilton County Tourism for helping make this project possible and for supporting community enhancements that benefit residents and visitors alike.