Walk, run, jog: Indy to spend $6.1M on waterway upgrades

Bridges along the White River and waterways across Indianapolis will have a new look after the city spends $6.1 million on improvements next year.

The Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development announced plans Tuesday to improve pathways along the White River, Central Canal, Pogues Run, Fall Creek and Pleasant Run.

More than half of the money — a mix of local, federal and private funding — will go toward improving the Central Canal. An estimated $2.25 million will pay for redesigning the canal's north bank from College to Guilford avenues.

Reconnecting to Our Waterways is a local grassroots effort supporting the projects. Since its founding three years ago, the organization, with the support of the Central Indiana Community Foundation and the Kresge Foundation, has raised nearly $3 million to improve the city's waterways and the adjacent neighborhoods.

"We're excited to see this funding spread across the city," said Corrie Meyer, co-chair of the Reconnecting to Our Waterways steering committee. "The funding will further our efforts to transform these areas into destinations and neighborhood assets."

The city nixed plans for a $3 million boardwalk for Broad Ripple earlier this year, but plans for canal improvements are moving forward.

According to the city these improvements will be made across Indianapolis:

• About $1.25 million will go toward purchasing and developing CSX railroad from 16th Street near Fall Creek Parkway to 29th Street.

• $1 million will be spent on a new multi-family housing development near Fall Creek Delaware Spider Gateway

• Pogues Run Trail from the Monon Trail to the Circle City Industrial Complex and Spade's Park will be completed.

• The Barth Avenue Bridge at Pleasant Run will be replaced. That project will cost about $580,000.

• The same amount of money will go toward installing planter boxes and lighting on New York Street Bridge over White River next year. Improvements at the Michigan Street bridge over the river are scheduled to begin in 2016.

"The city could have applied this funding anywhere, but chose to make the investment along our waterways," Meyer said. "That is encouraging and demonstrates how far along the ROW initiative has come since starting in 2012."

Call Star reporter Cara Anthony at (317) 444-6049. Follow her on Twitter: @CaraRAnthony.