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Record of Proceedings

Indianapolis Greenways Development Committee Meeting – July 24, 2025

Other Meetings (A-H) — Thursday, July 24, 2025
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionOther Meetings (A-H)
DateThursday, July 24, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

My name is Gretchen Jorkman.

0:01

I'm the program manager for Greenways and Trails under the Department of Public Works.

0:07

Hi.

0:08

Name's Damien Hashman, and I'm a senior project manager and city planner on the uh Treser News TV.

0:14

Jane Austin.

0:19

Joe Jarson, I've recently renewed now on this uh board committee.

0:25

But yeah, I also I also act as secretary, so I think here I'm actually doing work for you, not my service.

0:33

Craig Pink is vice chair.

0:36

I'm Damon Richards, I'm chair.

0:39

Damon King, I am uh technology background, and you're gonna make a difference.

0:47

Uh first meeting.

0:48

My day job is in real energy and our governments.

0:55

Matt Carter with visiting Bill Kings is the project manager for DQW.

1:02

Right.

1:05

Okay, well, let's talk about the crowdsource map.

1:12

Um that's a bit sorry, of course.

1:22

We're almost there.

1:23

Almost there.

1:25

So we're gonna talk about this.

1:29

I think you should probably introduce this topic.

1:33

It's your revised thing, and you've got some story about how we came to be doing this.

1:41

Uh thanks, Stephen.

1:45

I will try to agree.

1:46

The um genesis of this idea was that uh Gretchen set around an email uh saying with links saying in May that the Metropolitan Planning Organization, MPO have a bike map, facilities app, and during the month of May it was possible to give input.

2:17

Um I asked, could we maybe add some uh a couple of data fields to that to include a place where people could identify locations that they thought needed restrooms and water?

2:35

Um the response was contact them.

2:39

Uh I didn't know who to contact.

2:41

I wasn't offered information about who to contact.

2:45

And so I started at the top with Anna Bremling, and uh she referred me to a software person there thinking that my question was a software question.

2:56

Uh the software person had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.

3:02

And after a couple of rounds of uh email exchanges, uh I said, can't you do better than this?

3:10

And I was referred to Jen Higgam Higginbotham, uh, who was wonderful.

3:18

Uh we had an hour-long uh video conference, and um she was completely on board with the idea of adding those fields.

3:30

Um she asked me if uh I knew who Gretchen was.

3:37

I said, well, yeah, and and it turns out she had been in regular contact with Gretchen.

3:45

I didn't know that when I started on the journey.

3:48

It only took a month and a half to learn it.

3:51

And um then she said, Well, I'll give her a call.

3:55

She called Gretchen and Daniel was on the call, apparently.

3:59

And uh and the MPO was willing to do this thing.

4:04

Uh then somehow in the process, uh, perhaps in the emails about all of this.

4:14

Um Damon said, why don't we do our own uh a standalone?

4:20

I thought, okay, great.

4:22

And and so um that's where he jumped in to create a geotag prototype map.

4:32

Uh some drafting has been done suggesting um introductory language to explain what it's about.

4:41

The whole idea is to ask people out and about in our system, take a photograph, and and Damon can explain the particulars.

4:52

Yeah, so we're we're just gonna ask folks that are using the trail network.

4:56

Where do you think stuff ought to be?

5:00

And initially thought we just make a map where people can stick stuff on it, but Lord knows what we might get that way.

5:07

So instead we thought we'll have them take pictures and send them in, and then we can screen what pictures we actually add to the map, and once it's got populated, we can make it available to people to view share it with the planners.

5:23

Sure, surprise them, but they start and sort of augments what the MPO's map does because their map has existing facilities.

5:41

Those facilities really exist, but maybe that's a phase two.

5:47

Which map is it that has that information on while that's already existence?

5:51

For MPO map, and okay, yeah.

5:55

And it has restrooms.

6:05

But I don't know how accurate it is.

6:08

We did a check on it, just the bike parking at one time and found that a lot of the things indicated as bike parking are not places you would park it like so.

6:29

I don't know if this is something we need to vote on or not.

6:33

We can't do it right now.

6:37

You have any numbers, correct?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Trail-Friendly Business Planning█████████████████████████████████████████████56%
Public Engagement██████████12%
Legal and Liability███████9%
Community Engagement███████9%
Public Health████5%
Data Analysis██3%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Procedural██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Indianapolis Greenways Development Committee Meeting

The Indianapolis Greenways Development Committee met on July 24, 2025, at 18:00 UTC to discuss a crowdsourced amenity mapping initiative, the trail-friendly business program, strategic planning updates, and capital projects. The committee approved prior minutes, adopted a resolution supporting a geotag mapping solution, and reviewed progress on trail construction.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

Crowdsource Amenity Map (Geotag Mapping)

  • A committee member recounted how the idea arose from an MPO bike map survey in May; after contacting the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), cooperation was secured to add fields for restroom and water locations, and a standalone geotag prototype was developed.
  • The concept: trail users submit photographs of locations where amenities such as restrooms, water fountains, bike racks, or trash barrels are needed; staff screen submissions before they appear on the map.
  • Discussion covered dissemination strategies (QR codes on trails, city website links, social media, community groups), privacy concerns, and the challenge of reaching non-organized trail users.
  • DPW Project Manager Matt Carter noted that restrooms and water require utilities and outlined a phased approach: first pilot a trail-friendly business program using nearby existing facilities, then apply public-health-based spacing (at least one restroom every five miles). Permanent compost stations cost $300,000–$500,000 each, and the city lacks maintenance funding.
  • Vice Chair Craig Pink raised concerns about overpromising; others emphasized data collection to support future funding and pilots.
  • The committee voted unanimously (all in favor, none opposed) to adopt a resolution supporting the geotag mapping solution and to appoint a subcommittee to finalize the alpha version and manage promotion.

Trail-Friendly Business Program

  • Members discussed recruiting trail-adjacent businesses to allow trail users to use their restrooms. The program currently is defined simply as businesses letting people use their restroom.
  • Craig Pink raised legal questions: whether the program requires contracts, whether the committee has authority to bind the city, who can enter agreements, and whether informal arrangements are valid. He argued that door-knocking before obtaining legal clarity would be a "fool's errand."
  • Matt Carter clarified that the committee lacks contracting authority and is aligned under the Department of Parks and Recreation; recommendations must go to the appropriate board. He suggested members could informally gauge business interest and gather evidence for a future resolution.
  • An earlier precedent was cited: Indie Runners conducted a "runner-friendly business" outreach in 2015–2016, offering stickers with no formal commitments.
  • Some members suggested researching examples such as Elkhart County's Pumpkinvine Trail and using social influencers. No formal action was taken; the committee agreed to further investigate legal parameters and business incentives.

Strategic Plan Update

  • A city planner named Daniel reported on the greenways strategic plan. Four stakeholder meetings had been held on community/access, ecology/conservation, and place-based groups (south side and north side). August "road shows" are planned at farmers markets and concerts to collect public input.
  • Results of a values-and-vision exercise (participants allocated eight votes) showed transportation/connectivity scored highest (~2.2 votes of 8), followed by health/environment (~2 votes) and connecting underserved communities (~1.75 votes). Growth and sustainable funding categories received fewer votes but were rarely left blank.

Capital Project Updates

  • The DPW project manager gave updates:
    • Nickel Plate Trail: ribbon cutting planned for late August/early September, pending traffic signals; 10.3 miles of trail will open.
    • B&O Trail (Boda section): official opening in September, connecting from downtown to Hendricks County.
    • Eagle Creek Trail (Section 2A) is nearly complete; funding secured for closing remaining gaps (over $27 million in MPO grants).
    • In the latest MPO call for projects, the city secured $33–34 million, including $24 million for trails.
    • Groundbreakings: Interurban (first section from Eli Lilly to Pleasant Run), Grassy Creek, and Pogues Run.
  • The 2014 "Full Circle" plan is being updated with a values-driven approach.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to adopt the geotag mapping resolution and appoint a subcommittee: passed unanimously.
  • Minutes approved.
  • The committee will continue exploring the trail-friendly business program, awaiting legal guidance.
  • Next meeting scheduled for September 24, 2025, to be held at Garfield Park.
  • One committee vacancy remains; members expressed preference for a woman to restore gender representation.

Meeting Transcript

My name is Gretchen Jorkman. I'm the program manager for Greenways and Trails under the Department of Public Works. Hi. Name's Damien Hashman, and I'm a senior project manager and city planner on the uh Treser News TV. Jane Austin. Joe Jarson, I've recently renewed now on this uh board committee. But yeah, I also I also act as secretary, so I think here I'm actually doing work for you, not my service. Craig Pink is vice chair. I'm Damon Richards, I'm chair. Damon King, I am uh technology background, and you're gonna make a difference. Uh first meeting. My day job is in real energy and our governments. Matt Carter with visiting Bill Kings is the project manager for DQW. Right. Okay, well, let's talk about the crowdsource map. Um that's a bit sorry, of course. We're almost there. Almost there. So we're gonna talk about this. I think you should probably introduce this topic. It's your revised thing, and you've got some story about how we came to be doing this. Uh thanks, Stephen. I will try to agree. The um genesis of this idea was that uh Gretchen set around an email uh saying with links saying in May that the Metropolitan Planning Organization, MPO have a bike map, facilities app, and during the month of May it was possible to give input. Um I asked, could we maybe add some uh a couple of data fields to that to include a place where people could identify locations that they thought needed restrooms and water? Um the response was contact them. Uh I didn't know who to contact. I wasn't offered information about who to contact. And so I started at the top with Anna Bremling, and uh she referred me to a software person there thinking that my question was a software question. Uh the software person had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. And after a couple of rounds of uh email exchanges, uh I said, can't you do better than this? And I was referred to Jen Higgam Higginbotham, uh, who was wonderful. Uh we had an hour-long uh video conference, and um she was completely on board with the idea of adding those fields. Um she asked me if uh I knew who Gretchen was. I said, well, yeah, and and it turns out she had been in regular contact with Gretchen. I didn't know that when I started on the journey. It only took a month and a half to learn it. And um then she said, Well, I'll give her a call. She called Gretchen and Daniel was on the call, apparently. And uh and the MPO was willing to do this thing. Uh then somehow in the process, uh, perhaps in the emails about all of this. Um Damon said, why don't we do our own uh a standalone? I thought, okay, great. And and so um that's where he jumped in to create a geotag prototype map. Uh some drafting has been done suggesting um introductory language to explain what it's about. The whole idea is to ask people out and about in our system, take a photograph, and and Damon can explain the particulars. Yeah, so we're we're just gonna ask folks that are using the trail network. Where do you think stuff ought to be? And initially thought we just make a map where people can stick stuff on it, but Lord knows what we might get that way. So instead we thought we'll have them take pictures and send them in, and then we can screen what pictures we actually add to the map, and once it's got populated, we can make it available to people to view share it with the planners.

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