First portion of Monon South expected to be completed this year
RECREATION
Officials celebrated the opening of the Orleans section of the Monon South Trail in December .
STATE ’ S LONGEST RECREATIONAL TRAIL IN THE WORKS
First portion of Monon South expected to be completed this year
Story by :
BROOKE MCAFEE
An extensive trail is underway in Southern Indiana with the first sections expected to be completed this year .
The Monon South Trail will cover 62 miles in five counties , running from New Albany to Mitchell , and once complete , it will be the state ’ s longest recreational trail .
The rails-to-trails project includes a former rail corridor acquired from CSX .
Radius Indiana is responsible for the portions of the trail in Clark . Jeff Quyle , president and CEO of Radius Indiana , said there has been $ 10 million worth of design and construction in 2024 .
About half of the organization ’ s $ 22.3 million in Next Level Trails state grant was spent in the past year , which is for the first phase of the project .
Quyle said it is a “ point of pride ” to build a regional trail .
“ We ’ re using 10-foot-wide asphalt trails in the communities to really give the public a nice , wide trail that offers safety and convenience and a smooth surface so the communities really have a sense of pride .”
The City of New Albany ’ s portion — the South Monon Freedom Trail — will eventually run from the former rail corridor at the Floyd / Clark County border to the Ohio River Greenway at New Albany ’ s riverfront .
PROGRESS In December , Radius celebrated a ribbon cutting with community leaders for the opening of the trail ’ s first Orleans segment , which spans about 1.25 miles .
This is the shortest segment of the project and the first of the Monon South Trail to open .
“ We ’ ve put a very nice parking lot there , so the trailhead will be able to serve the community year-round for when things
12 2025 WELCOME HOME SOUTHERN INDIANA