According to Dan McFeely, development and community relations consultant for the city of Carmel, a portion of the Monon Greenway Trail will be closing due to renovations. The closure began on Jan. 17 and will continue for the next 10 months. The Monon Trail will be closed to the public from Monon Green Boulevard to the tunnel at City Center Drive. 

In some parts of the Monon Trail, pedestrian counters were previously installed to help the city collect data on how frequently the Monon Trail is used. 

McFeely said via email, “The Monon and Main counter (our busiest counter) shows that it has a daily average of 1,960 trips since it was installed in 2019, which would equate to an average of 715,400 trips per year.  Last year, the Monon and Main counter counted 809,231 trips.”

Derek Moser, health teacher at this school, said the Monon Trail is important to him. 

“I love the Monon; I run on it every morning. I walk on it whenever I have a chance and ride my bike as well in the summer. I actually bought my house specifically because it was close to the Monon so I could still use it every day. Besides running on it, some of my favorite memories are walking on (the Monon) on Saturday mornings to the Farmers Market in the summer.”

Similarly, sophomore Leanne Daniels said the Monon is important as a form of transportation.

Daniels said, “Mostly in the summer, that‘s my primary source of transportation, especially when it comes to work. So I bike a lot on it to get to work. I also longboard a lot on it. I‘ve created a lot of memories with friends. I am always on that trail in the summer. And I also use it as my source of exercise, I run on it a lot as well. So I‘ve spent a lot of my time on it and I live right next to it. I‘m also very close to it so it‘s easy access.”

According to McFeely, the city of Carmel is doing these renovations/construction in conjunction with Clay Township. 

“The Township has partnered with the City on a number of important projects over the past few years, many of them related to parks. The Monon Greenway is a linear park and as such, the township felt it was important to support the City‘s plans to widen the greenway at one of its most congested points.” 

Due to the traffic on the Monon, the city plans to widen the trails in some points, upkeep the landscaping and to add seating to more areas of the trail.

Moser said this closure will take some getting used to.

“I think the biggest effect it will have are those who use it regularly and have to detour around the closure, as well as the individuals who like to walk to the Farmers Market. I’m not sure exactly how that will work with the renovations not being completed for 10 months, but I am sure that they thought of the possible implications it would have had before they started. It will be an adjustment for sure, but everyone will figure out what those are and make them,” he said.

However, Daniels said this renovation will have a positive impact on the city as a whole.

“I would say that is very beneficial, especially from my past experiences, a dog attacked my board when I was trying to pass them because there wasn‘t enough space. And my board got damaged. So I feel as though adding more space on the trails gives enough room to where people and pets will be more comfortable and we won‘t be getting as close. It is  a safer way for people to be able to exercise and not get too close to one another.”

McFeely said this will have an extremely positive impact on the Carmel community.

“This project will include widening and beautifying the Monon corridor in the City Center, which is our new downtown,” he said. “Widening the Monon itself will allow people travel through City Center and avoid conflicts with other Monon users where it is currently congested during busy times of the day/year (because of the Monon’s popularity).  The beautification will provide another attraction along the Monon for community members and visitors to gather and enjoy central Carmel.”

“The Monon is one of the City of Carmel’s most popular amenities,” he added. “Investing in the Monon has helped increase the quality of life in Carmel, which is why people move here and why major companies choose to establish their businesses here. We don‘t have mountains or oceans, so we rely on the landscape of a built environment to give Carmel the unique flair that served us so well. The Monon attracts new residents who want to be on or near the trail, it attracts visitors from all over the Midwest and it has become a desirable place to work as well. This section of the Monon is in need of repair after years of use.  The popularity of the Monon has brought a lot of bike and pedestrian traffic through City Center so widening this section of the Monon will create a more enjoyable experience for all Monon users and visitors to the City Center area.”

While construction is going on, all businesses will be open and detour signs will be posted in the area for all upcoming events.

Daniels said, “(The Monon Trail is) a way for people to get to places, it’s a way for people to work out, it’s a way people come together. I see families there a lot. I see friends there a lot. It‘s a way for people (to be together) during COVID especially.  I‘ve seen double the amount of people on there. I just feel like it‘s made a huge difference in the community.”