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Council OKs $5.25M in Grants, Transfers to Advance White River Greenway North Extension
Summary
The council approved transfers and appropriations to move $1,249,700 and $784,424.96 into park capital funds and the impact-fee fund after the city received Hamilton County and REDI grant reimbursements for the White River Greenway North Extension.
The Carmel Common Council voted unanimously Feb. 3 to appropriate and transfer grant dollars to support the White River Greenway North Extension project.
Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation Director Michael Klitzing told the council the city received a $1,000,000 grant from Hamilton County and initial reimbursements from the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (REDI) tied to a larger $4,000,000 award. The council approved two ordinances and two companion resolutions to move funds from the city’s grant fund into the Parks and Recreation Non-Reverting Capital Fund (Fund 103) and the Parks and Recreation Impact Fee Fund (Fund 106) and to appropriate the dollars for trail construction and related work.
Director Klitzing said the REDI award is a reimbursable grant; the city has been cash-flowing the project in advance and needs the transfers and appropriations to keep construction moving. The measures transferred $784,424.96 into the parks impact-fee fund and appropriated $1,249,700 into the parks non-reverting capital fund, among other transfers discussed during the meeting.
Klitzing and park staff also reviewed quarterly park system performance: the Monon Community Center recorded about 685,000 visitors and the parks system reported a record $14 million in enterprise gross revenue in 2024. The parks director said the White River Greenway work has installed boardwalk sections and bridges in wetland areas and that the city projects an opening of the trail extension by fall 2025, weather permitting.
The council opened and closed the public hearing on the appropriation items without public comment, suspended the rules to act the same evening and approved the ordinances. Vote tallies recorded on the meeting video and minutes were 9–0 on each appropriation and transfer.
What it means: Funds will be available for ongoing trail construction and reimbursements; park staff said the White River Greenway North Extension will include pedestrian overlooks and boardwalks that traverse wetlands, and that additional grant reimbursement is expected as the project progresses.
