On Tuesday, the City of Westfield and Hamilton County Tourism “powered up” the new interactive kiosk at the Monon Trailhead located at East Greyhound Pass and the Monon Trail. The installment is the first of its kind in Hamilton County and has several safety and recreation features for trail users.
“Today we are celebrating another Westfield first,” said Mayor Andy Cook. “I am proud of the hard work and innovation that went into making this project a reality for our residents and visitors. The kiosk will add an element of safety and information accessibility to anyone using the Monon in Westfield.”
The kiosk was a group effort designed over the course of two years by City of Westfield staff. The project team wanted the installation to have broad functionality. It includes safety features such as surveillance and emergency dispatch capability, a function to report maintenance and service requests, a guided search for local amenities and a photo booth.
“This project is an example of Westfield’s commitment to being a forward-thinking community,” said City of Westfield Informatics Project Manager Sam Rivard. “We took this opportunity to think beyond the ‘norm.’ For example, a huge component of the installation is a means to provide trail surveillance in order to deter crime and access to emergency dispatch at the touch of a button.”
Westfield Public Safety and Hamilton County Dispatch have around the clock access to the surveillance system which covers a 200-feet radius of the trail. It is equipped with a phone that connects directly to emergency dispatch providing peace of mind for trail users who may not carry a mobile device while on the trail. It also provides weather updates including an alert override that enables other features in case of a severe weather emergency.
The city partnered with Hamilton County Tourism to fund the kiosk which will highlight local events, eateries and amenities. According to Google, the Monon Trail is the “most searched” attraction for leisure travelers to Hamilton County, making the kiosk’s location prime for visitors looking for things to do in the area.
“Despite mobile technology and the ready availability of information, studies show people love guided searches,” said Hamilton County Tourism President/CEO Brenda Myers. “This partnership provides a sense of safety and, hopefully, sparks interest in all the great things to see and do in Westfield and the area.”
In the future, the city plans to install other kiosks along the Westfield Monon Trail, including the trailhead at 161st Street and the new pedestrian bridge at State Road 32. The Monon Trail, established in 1996, runs more than 24 miles from downtown Indianapolis to Sheridan.
But wait! I thought these trails were all so safe? Obviously they are not, and people like us who have to live along these linear crime trails know better, and yet they want to build even more. Disgraceful.