The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the city of Noblesville on Thursday opened the recently completed Nickel Plate Trail.
The 2.7-mile asphalt multi-use trail was constructed by Noblesville with help from a $3.1 million Next Level Trails (NLT) grant. The award was announced by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb in April 2022 as part of the third grant round of NLT.
“As a regional trail tracking through central Indiana, the Nickel Plate Trail is an excellent example of how we can connect people and communities through trails,” DNR Director Dan Bortner said. “This nearly three-mile trail segment is helping us blaze new connections, and it is an excellent example of the impact Next Level Trails is having across the state.”
The new 12-foot-wide trail extends from 146th Street to Pleasant Street near downtown Noblesville. Included within the project was the restoration of a historic bridge over Allisonville Road, as well as a bridge over Stony Creek. At 146th Street, the trail connects to the northern terminus of the existing Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers, which extends more than seven miles south to Hague Road, connecting the two cities.
The northern segment of the project will ultimately connect to the Midland Trace Trail, a regional trail that connects Noblesville to Westfield.
When completed, the Nickel Plate Trail will stretch more than 17 miles from the Indiana State Fairgrounds to downtown Noblesville. To date, NLT has invested more than $12 million along the Nickel Plate corridor through Indianapolis, Fishers, and Noblesville. The final phases along the corridor include a pedestrian bridge over 96th Street as well as the 10 miles of trail within the city of Indianapolis.
Jensen
“Whether walking, biking, or running, the Nickel Plate Trail opens up new opportunities for families and individuals to enjoy the outdoors and experience our community as never before,” Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen said. “I appreciate Gov. Holcomb’s continued quality-of-life investments throughout our state and how this regional trail allows us to be better connected to Fishers and Indianapolis.”
As part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Connections initiative, NLT is the largest infusion of trails funding in state history. The now $180 million program is administered by the DNR and facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. Including the Nickel Plate Trail, 28 of the 75 NLT projects are complete, totaling more than 86 miles of trail built since the program’s inception. An additional 12 projects are under construction, with many more slated to break ground this year.
In May, Gov. Holcomb announced details for the fourth round of NLT, which will dedicate an additional $30 million to connect communities through more hiking, biking, and riding trails across the state. The DNR anticipates awards to be announced in December.
More information about NLT is at on.IN.gov/NextLevelTrails.