By Mark Ambrogi
The time is now for Zionsville runners, walkers and bicyclists to weigh in with their recommendations for the Zionsville Pedestrian and Bikeways Plan.
There will be a public open house on the plan from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Zionsville Town Hall’s Community Room, 1100 W. Oak St.
Residents will have the opportunity to share their opinion on the present and future needs of biking and walking in Zionsville.
Zionsville received a grant for partial funding of a bike and pedestrian master plan from the Indiana State Department of Health last summer.
The town provided the remaining funds and in December hired Louisville-based Rundell Ernstberger Associates, a landscaping architecture and urban design company, to prepare the plan. That firm is working with Matt Dickey, superintendent of Zionsville Department of Parks and Recreation, to develop the project.
Rundell Ernstberger has developed these bike and pedestrian master paths for Fishers, Brownsburg, Richmond and several other municipalities in the Lousiville area.
“The information we’re looking for at this meeting is where do you ride your bike now and where do you walk now,” said Tricia McClellan, a principal for Rundell Ernstberger. “Then also wishes — where would you like to be able to run or walk or bike.”
McClellan said there will be maps showing existing conditions for people to examine before making recommendations.
“We’ll have stations set up with markers and dots so we’ll have people drawing on the maps,” McClellan said.
McClellan and several Rundell Ernstberger Associates staffers will man the stations.
Residents can recommend how to improve pedestrian and bicycle circulation within neighborhoods.
“The next public meeting will be when we get reaction from them on proposed possibilities,” McClellan said.
A community survey will soon be available online and in hard copy at a number of area businesses. A project website and maps also will be available. Links will be available on the town’s website this week, McClellan said.
