Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation is taking strides to expand its inventory of parks and recreation opportunities available to the residents of Carmel. With the inclusion of the Eastside Project of Central Park, an additional source of outdoor recreation and educational opportunities will be provided to an already wealthy inventory of unique and original public parks. The project adds important new dimensions to the park with new amenities for passive recreation and education, expanded health and wellness opportunities with the expanded trail system and the potential for new revenue sources through programming of the new facilities.
The Eastside Project is the second phase of development for this 160-acre community park that is the central jewel of Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation’s park system. Residing in the middle of Central Park is the Monon Community Center, a 146,000-square-foot recreation facility that includes indoor aquatics, a waterpark, fitness center, gymnasium, KidZone (childcare) and program and meeting rooms.
The eastside of the park activated more than 60 acres of largely undeveloped parkland for educationally-focused and passive activities. The project is set within the ecologically-sensitive woodland communities associated with Carmel Creek and its tributaries, and provides primitive picnic and day camp groves, shelters, public toilets and parking areas carefully integrated into restored natural ecosystems.The expanded trail system, designed as a series of nature-inspired loops, includes the reuse of an abandoned interurban rail line, while creating a new northern nonmotorized park entry and link to adjacent businesses and restaurants. Carefully designed and placed, interpretive maps, signage and messages will also be located throughout the project to enhance educational opportunities for all ages, abilities and interests. As one approaches the park, the east entry drive has been enhanced with new signage, lighting and architectural elements to improve the park’s visibility and safety. Once in the park, lanes have been narrowed, a roundabout intersection has been added and low-level lighting and architectural elements have been added to enhance the road as a scenic parkway.
For more information on the Eastside Project of Central Park, please visit www.carmelclayparks.com.
