Monon Trail Details – Broad Ripple Ave to the White River

I spend quite a bit of time getting around the city at the human pace – which I love because it allows me to soak in the smaller details of our city – both good and bad. I was cruising through Broad Ripple on the Monon recently and in the few blocks between Broad Ripple Ave and the White River I noticed quite a few new additions to that section of the trail that prompted a return trip to snap a few photos.

Starting from the south and working north, we first encounter the nearly finished product of Monon Pointe that Kevin covered back in April with this post.

While they don’t embrace the Monon with an entrance to the building – they did incorporate these “hang your bike” racks on the Monon facing wall of the building.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to test them out because they don’t work with my bike since it has fenders.  Luckily, on the north side of the building they built this plaza with another bike rack.

As you can see they have the landscaping around the building and along the trail all wrapped up and it includes these large stones that I’m sure will double as trail side seating.

Moving north on the trail – although they aren’t new features I couldn’t help but to take pictures of a couple pieces of public art that help to create the Broad Ripple vibe.

It isn’t all rosy along the trail however.  Adjacent to the origin of the Central Canal we find what was a unique trash can installation done with bicycle tubes – it has seen better days.  The trail signage has also faded and could use a refresh here as well since this is where the Central Canal Towpath & Monon Trail connect.

And unfortunately the electrical box behind the Rockdale (covered here back in 2012) has been tagged.  Easy fix.

Just a few feet up the trail we find a mini PUP stop directly across from the Broad Ripple Ice Cream Station.  I’ve seen the crowd lined up for ice cream at BRICS and think an entire stadium seating arrangement could be used here – there is room for it!  Also – this wall is screaming out for an art mural, don’t you think?

Right across 64th street we find that work has resumed on Martha Hoover’s Public Greens trail side concept.  According to a recent interview in Indianapolis Monthly magazine, this project was put on hold after the Petit Chou flood and subsequent renovation.

However this allowed more time for the creation of the Patachou Foundation and now all profits from Public Greens will go to the Foundation as they work towards feeding local children impacted by hunger and homelessness.  A trail side chicken coop is also planned.  And can you say “massive outdoor deck?”  Awesome.

Crossing over 65th street I notice a few non-sexy improvements like the better street to trail pedestrian access that includes ramps for wheelchair users and families pushing strollers.

Now that the Cornell Avenue resurfacing project is complete, they have added signage to help us understand what we are supposed to be doing with the parking spots that angle the “wrong way.”  Early in the morning when I snapped these shots this van driver even did it correctly, but others were still pulling in nose first.

The above shot also shows that the base for the Faces of Indiana for the Millennium sculpture was shored up this past year.  If you’ve never stopped to take a close look at this piece of art it is worth a few minutes next time you are in the area – it incorporates quite a bit of Indiana specific detail.

One other detail I had never noticed was the “tree bench” that sits right along the trail.

The last addition to this section of the Monon is on the opposite side sandwiched between the trail and Westfield Boulevard.  Hotel Broad Ripple opened earlier this summer and has 9 guest rooms with an upscale B&B feel.  Their backyard and overnight room balconies facing the trail do a fantastic job of encouraging their guests to soak in the vibrancy the trail has helped to create over the years.