The City of Noblesville celebrated the completion of the second phase of the Riverwalk project with a public ribbon cutting ceremony on May 30.
“As in many communities, trails are definitely a popular amenity in our city. Completion of this second phase of Riverwalk allows us to increase our trail inventory as well as provide an easy way for people to enjoy the beauty of the White River, downtown Noblesville, and Forest Park,” Mayor John Ditslear said.
Phase I of Riverwalk was a Hamilton County project and consisted of creating a trail to connect the Hamilton County employee parking lot underneath the Conner Street/Ind. 32 bridge and back up to the Hamilton County Judicial Center. Phase II of Riverwalk is a City of Noblesville project and consists of extending the trail under the Logan Street Bridge and up again where it now connects with the pedestrian bridge to Forest Park.
City Engineer John Beery said the project is just halfway completed as two phases are left. Phase III is currently in talks between the city and county. Beery said the estimated cost is $1 to $1.5 million – depending on what it entails.
“We’re working out who pays what,” he said, adding that no timetable has been set for construction. “We just started talking about going forward and grant funding.”
Phase III will connect the first two phases behind the Judicial Center between Conner and Logan streets.
“Phase II was the most difficult. There were really, really difficult utility issues with water and electrical that had to be worked out,” he said. “We saved the less complicated phase (III) for last.”
Originally planned to be three phases, Beery said a fourth phase will extend the trail southward from the county parking lot toward the Noblesville wastewater treatment plant. When the project is completed, Berry said the entire Riverwalk will be American Disabilities Act compliant.