Can Carmel help Muncie, Anderson grow?
Seth Slabaugh
MUNCIE — Longtime Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard has endorsed the proposed Mounds Greenway as a project that would not only enhance his fast-growing city's "strong sense of place" but also help Anderson and Muncie — whose populations are stagnant.
Recommended as an alternative to the controversial Mounds Lake, which appears to be dead in the water, Mounds Greenway would be a linear park and trail network following the White River from Muncie to Anderson and ultimately Indianapolis.
The Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC), which is championing Mounds Greenway, has secured support for the project from four mayors: Brainard of Carmel, Dennis Tyler of Muncie, John Ditslear of Noblesville, and Andy Cook of Westfield.
HEC last week released letters of endorsement written by the mayors. The messages were addressed to Gov. Eric Holcomb; Cameron Clark, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources; and Elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
Brainard noted that during his six terms as mayor, Carmel's population has increased from about 25,000 to nearly 90,000, "taking the top spot on Money Magazine's 'Best Places to Live in America' list along the way." Parks, green space and trails grew from 40 acres to more than 800 acres during that time.
While projects like Central Park, City Center, the Arts and Design District, and the Center for Performing Arts have been critical "in building our reputation as a top-quality place to live and do business," the Monon Greenway "deserves special recognition for its contribution to Carmel's success," Brainard wrote.
"Unfortunately, Carmel's position today is not one shared by many communities throughout our great state, with many Indiana communities losing population to parts of our country perceived as providing a better quality of life," Brainard wrote. "… I commend the state's effort to incentivize regional thinking, and I offer my own desire for regionalism and quality of life to play a central role in our state's economic development narrative."
Which is why he is urging support for Mounds Greenway, an "excellent project that will further build our quality of place while connecting us to our neighboring communities in Central and East Central Indiana."
Anderson's population, which peaked in 1970 at 70,787, was down to 56,129 as of the 2010 Census. After cresting at 77,216 in 1980, Muncie's population had dropped to 70,085 by 2010. The two cities were hit hard by auto and other factory closings.
According to Census Bureau estimates and the Indiana Business Research Center, Carmel was Indiana's fastest-growing city last year (adding nearly 3,000 residents), followed by Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Noblesville, Westfield and Fishers.
Muncie, whose population includes Ball State University students, has dropped just outside the state's 10 largest cities. Carmel now ranks fifth, Fishers sixth and Lafayette 10th (71,782).
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In his endorsement letter, Tyler noted that Muncie is already connected to Taylor University and Richmond via the Cardinal Greenway.
" … completing the missing link between Anderson and Muncie sets the stage for a regional trail network of remarkable dimension," Tyler wrote. "Consider the possibilities: from Anderson to the south, the greenway would eventually continue through Hamilton County, connecting the trail networks of Noblesville, Westfield, Carmel and Fishers, ultimately reaching the White River Greenway in Indianapolis."
The mayor of Anderson isn't as enthusiastic or optimistic, telling the Herald Bulletin this week that Mounds Greenway, like Mounds Lake (the proposed reservoir), lacks funding. "I'm looking for answers and haven't seen them," Broderick was quoted. "Everyone is in favor of improving the quality of life for local residents, but there was no substance around the vision."
HEC's Tim Maloney counts Broderick as a neutral party, not as an opponent of the greenway. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness also hasn't declared support for the project. "He hasn't taken a position yet," Maloney told The Star Press. "I don't know if he will or not."
As for Anderson, Maloney said, "I think we have support over there. It's hard to find it among city officials but there are certainly people over there who think it's a good idea."
The main tributary to the Wabash River, the White River starts in Randolph County and runs through Muncie, Yorktown, Daleville, Chesterfield, Anderson, Mounds Park and Hamilton County, including Conner Prairie living history museum, before reaching Indianapolis.
"As a state without mountains or a coast, we have to think outside of the box to successfully create a greater sense of place in our community," wrote Ditslear, the mayor of Noblesville. "As such, our riverfront, historic downtown, city parks, greenways, trails and open spaces serve as both enormous points of pride and valuable quality of life amenities."
The lack of mountains and coasts also has prevented Indianapolis from sprawling out, especially, satellite images show, up the Interstate 69 corridor.
In September, HEC again will sponsor its bicycle Ride for the Mounds (Greenway) along scenic country roads roughly following the course of the White River near potential greenway routes.
The proposal is to conserve the free-flowing river and its floodplain forests, wetlands and other natural communities by creating a linear park following the waterway.
HEC isn't the only organization supporting more connectivity between Muncie and Indianapolis. So is the Anderson-Muncie Public Transportation Coalition
"Some people would like to see commuter rail between Muncie and Indianapolis, but you have to walk before you can run," the coalition's Roger Hollands told The Star Press last year. "In the short run, commuter buses can be the answer."
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Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834.