Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with Cardinal Greenways

For more than three decades, Cardinal Greenways has connected communities across East Central Indiana. Stretching across five counties and weaving through cities, towns, and rural landscapes, Cardinal Greenways is Indiana’s longest rail-trail—and a defining regional asset.

The trail is owned and maintained by Cardinal Greenways, a nonprofit organization, rather than by a state or local government. That means every mile of trail, every trailhead, and every improvement is made possible through fundraising, partnerships, and community support.

In this Q&A, Angie Pool, CEO of Cardinal Greenways, shares updates on major projects underway and on the horizon—from the Kitselman Trailhead in Muncie to trail improvements near Richmond and new construction planned to help close the gap in Grant County.

• Cardinal Greenways spans five counties and connects a wide range of communities across East Central Indiana. How do you think about stewarding a trail system of this scale while making sure it continues to serve both cities and small towns well?

  Our vision when we began building the Cardinal Greenway trail system in the 1990s was to construct a multi-use, paved trail that would not only enhance the quality of life for residents of our five counties but also actively connect our many communities. Over time we have enjoyed watching these early visions become reality and have worked with our downtowns, colleges, schools, neighborhoods and businesses to create connections to our main system. We now have other trail groups across the region working to connect their trails to our system. This is a win for residents and our thousands of trail users.  We work just as diligently with our small towns as we do our larger cities. No matter the size of the community, our trail is a free resource for all to become healthier and to promote mental wellbeing. 

  Our smaller towns are beginning to promote the Cardinal Greenway as an asset, and many are working with us to add signage and share ideas for getting the word out. One of my favorite amenities we placed along our trail early on were our interpretive signs. We took extra care to research each small town and city so we could tell their story with one of our signs. I feel that has helped create a seamless experience for the trail users and has allowed us to brag about each area they would pass by. After many years, some of these signs need updated which is a task we have on our long to-do list!

• Unlike many trails that are owned by cities or the state, the 62 mile+ greenway is owned and operated by Cardinal Greenways, a nonprofit organization. What does that ownership model make possible—and what challenges does it create when it comes to maintaining and expanding the trail?

  Our founding members chose this model early on to speed up the process of applying for grants to acquire the abandoned rail line and to make our efforts to create a five-county trail system easier to manage. Even today, after 33 years, many are surprised to learn that we are not city or state owned. For us, the perks of ownership outweigh the challenges.

  Early on, our ownership allowed us to develop and implement a master plan for the trail seamlessly across all five counties. We were able to move quickly because we did not need city or local government design approval in each individual town the trail passed through. We always reached out—and continue to work with each city and town closely—but we could have one single design, a unified marketing/branding effort, and we could select contractors to work across the multi-county system. 

  There are challenges of course. Funding for day-to-day operations, liability, new construction, trail restoration and repair all fall in our wheelhouse to fund and manage. We rely on the strong partnerships we have made through the years with major funders such as Ball Brothers Foundation, with our cities and towns, and with our many trail users who have become faithful donors to help support the many costs associated with running a large trail system.

• The Kitselman Trailhead project on Muncie’s eastside represents a major investment in trail infrastructure, in creating a stunning eastern gateway into Muncie, and in transforming a former brownfield site. Can you share what this final phase of the Kitselman Gateway project will mean for trail users and for the broader Muncie community? What are the construction impacts in 2026, and when can we expect the trail through this section to re-open?

  In the early 2000s, the Cardinal Greenway was charged with managing and building the White River Greenway for the City of Muncie. We proudly accepted that role, and with that, completed construction of the 6-mile White River Greenway which spans the city from east to west. The Kitselman Trailhead project has been in the WRG master plan since the early 1990s, and it was always intended to serve as a connection point for the White River Greenway and the Cardinal Greenway and to serve as a major trailhead. We are proud of how gorgeous this trailhead is becoming and of the beauty it adds to those coming into Muncie from the east.

  The Kitselman Trailhead project was such a large buildout that it was divided into 3 phases. We are now in Phase 3, the final construction phase, which focuses on realigning the Cardinal Greenway to travel safely underneath State Road 32 (Jackson Street). This move eliminates a tricky angled crossing and significantly improves safety for our users. Another parking lot will be added on the west side of the river as well as interpretive and directional signage. In the future, you will see a Trailhead identifying sign appear and some very fun recognition signs for the Cardinal Greenway, White River Greenway, and the City of Muncie. There was a lot of construction movement during 2025 which will continue into the 2026 construction season. Should all go as planned, the project should be completed late fall of 2026. Unfortunately, the trail will remain closed until then in this section.

  When the project is complete, the City and the CG will have a showcase Trailhead, additional parking to access both trails, new artwork, and stone benches giving great access to the White River. The project has already been recognized statewide as an “Outstanding Trail Project.” It is also a vastly popular route for our trail users, and we know they will be so thankful when it is reopened and they have a whole other beautiful side to enjoy.

• There are also significant construction projects underway on the Greenway’s southern section in Richmond and along the northern section in Upland. What’s happening in these areas, and why are these projects such important milestones for the future of Cardinal Greenways?

  Our Wayne County section of trail was closed for the bulk of 2025 due to major construction on I-70 from Richmond to the Ohio state line. Because the Cardinal Greenway passes directly underneath I-70, the construction team had to build a concrete tunnel under the interstate. This now protects our trail users from any debris that may fall from the interstate above. While the tunnel and trail reopened in December 2025, we do anticipate a week-long closure again in 2026 for the final layer of asphalt to be poured. The southernmost section of trail in Richmond will also be impacted when the railroad works on an existing bridge, though dates for this work are still to be determined. In the meantime, trail users will be pleased to know that the City of Richmond has been working to improve the scenic Gorge Trail which connects to the Cardinal Greenway via Richmond’s Veteran’s Park. 

  Heading north to Grant County, we are busy working with our partners at Taylor University to construct the first several miles of trail to begin closing “the gap.” This is a huge milestone for our organization as it has remained a goal to close the 18-mile gap between Gaston and Gas City/Jonesboro since our beginning. Work will continue in 2026 with a segment of approximately 2 miles slated to be paved in the “Taylor Wilderness” area in Upland by year-end. 

  These projects show the commitment we have to our original vision, to our communities, and to our trail users as we keep striving to maintain our current trail and add more miles.  When the Cardinal Greenway began in the early 1990s, there were not a lot of trails in Indiana, and we easily held the distinction of being the state’s longest rail-trail. Today, trails are seen as valuable assets and vital to communities. Trail growth in Indiana has exploded over the last 8 years and, as a result, there are systems just itching to surpass our mile count. In the friendliest of competitions, we are just as determined to add our own miles and keep our status.

• Looking ahead, how do you think about the long-term future of Cardinal Greenways—and the role the trail can continue to play in connecting communities across East Central Indiana?

  In our 33-year history we have accomplished so much and have been a leader in trail development in Indiana. We are sought out for advice from other trail systems because of our experience in operations, construction, best practices, and maintenance. I want that to continue as we push through the challenges of our current life cycle—caring for an aging trail and doing so as a trail system that has to raise all of its own support. I want us to be open to ideas from the ever-growing trail network both in Indiana and nationwide.

  Over the next few years, my goals include working with our board to establish long-term funding streams, continuing to advocate for trail repair and restoration funds from both the state and federal levels, enhancing what the Cardinal Greenway can offer to all our cities and towns (especially bringing more visitors to enjoy these great places), and, of course, I want to add trail miles within our Gap and in our larger trail system. We want the Cardinal Greenway to be here for generations to come and for all to witness just how special being out on our trail is.

Current, Recently Finished, and Upcoming Cardinal Greenways Projects:

• Deer Creek project in Grant County completed in 2025, rebuilding and repaving section of trail to solve long-term significant erosion problems.

• Construction underway of approx. 2-mile segment of new trail in Taylor University’s “Taylor Wilderness” adjacent to cross country course. Construction continues through Spring 2026. This is the first project to close Gap between Gaston and Gas City/Jonesboro.

• Recent completion of new trailhead at 800 E (“Devil’s Backbone”) at Taylor Wilderness, providing parking for canoe/kayak launch along Mississinewa River and serving as new trailhead for future sections of Grant County trail sections.

• Kitselman Trailhead project in Delaware County, completion of a 3-phase build will continue through 2026’s construction season. Trail to remain closed here through summer 2026. When complete, will be a showcase Trailhead connecting the White River Greenway to the Cardinal Greenway via a restored, historic metal bridge.

• Trail repair along the Randolph County section of trail slated for 2026. The majority of the work will be between CR 1000 S and CR 1050 S; plans are also in place to crack seal along the entire Randolph County section of trail.

• Tunnel under I-70 in Wayne County under construction.

• Trail repair in Delaware County between Shafer Road and Gaston for select sections most in need of repair. This is only anticipated to result in short trail closures as contractors are on site.

• Annual cut back of the trail sides and management of invasive vegetation along entire trail.

• Future: A new capital project for a building on Depot property to store equipment as well as additional funding for trail repair. 

The History Between the Foundation and Cardinal Greenways

Cardinal Greenways began in the early 1990s as a community-led effort to transform an abandoned railroad corridor into a regional trail connecting East Central Indiana. Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1993, Cardinal Greenways purchased miles of former rail line and began building what would become Indiana’s longest rail-trail, with the first trail segment opening from Prairie Creek Reservoir to the Wysor Street Depot Muncie in the late 1990s.

Ball Brothers Foundation has supported Cardinal Greenways since the beginning, helping facilitate meetings with stakeholders early in the land acquisition process, providing matching dollars for construction, and supporting operating expenses over time. BBF’s long-standing partnership reflects a shared commitment to community connectivity, outdoor recreation, and quality of life—work that continues today as the trail expands and evolves.