Monon Boulevard & Midtown Plaza project is an engaging urban “complete street,” enhancing connectivity between the districts located along the Monon Greenway. Image Credit: Rundell Ernstberger Associates

Formerly surrounded by an abandoned industrial corridor, Monon Boulevard is a visionary example of how strategic investment in underutilized public space can drive redevelopment efforts. The project has been a catalyst for more than $250 million in adjacent private investment. Image Credit: Joshua Kirsh, City of Carmel

The Midtown district “beachfront” property overlooks the 6-block linear park at the heart of the Monon Boulevard & Midtown Plaza project. Image Credit: Rundell Ernstberger Associates

Monon Boulevard is a highly engaging linear greenspace system with connected active and passive activity zones formed in the eddies of the meandering pedestrian and bicycle paths. At the boulevard’s midpoint, Midtown Plaza is the energetic civic hub of the entire district. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

The “complete street” cross section outlines zones for fast-moving bike traffic and recreational users separated by a landscape median, thereby increasing safety for everyone. Image Credit: Rundell Ernstberger Associates

Monon Boulevard & Midtown Plaza create a vibrant public space lined with amenity zones and interactive public art including the larger-than-life bicycle sculpture, “Love at First Ride,” located at the South Gateway, nodding to the city’s designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

Monon Boulevard’s expansion from 2-lane bike path to a 140-foot-wide “complete street” is a catalyst in creating and sustaining Midtown’s thriving live-work-play environment. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

By prioritizing the walking and cycling experience through a highly dynamic and engaging design, the project has transformed the way people connect within the community and travel between districts. Pocket parks, water features, and art provide a safe and interesting route for people to walk, bike, ride, or drive, while supporting nearby businesses. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

Within and throughout the boulevard, a diverse array of custom-designed, thoughtful, and high-quality amenities have been integrated to enhance the visitor experience, promote social interaction, and activate the space throughout the year. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

The Active Zone provides play opportunities for all ages and abilities including a destination playscape, bocce ball and shuffleboard courts, and a spray plaza. Image Credit: Beth Maier, City of Carmel

Offering respite on hot days, interactive water play attracts the young at heart while the urban environment invites families to shop and dine nearby. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

Situated adjacent to the Monon Boulevard, Midtown Plaza is the largest recreation area integrated into the project and has become the “backyard” for the many apartment dwellers and workers in the district and a popular destination for more remote Carmel residents and visitors. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associate

Midtown Plaza features an artful brick plaza, outdoor video screen, natural grass events lawn, shaded seating and bench swings, and custom light and sound elements. Every day, children can be found playing on the lawn while their parents play outdoor billiards and enjoy the local brewery or tap room. Teens are often spotted playing ping- pong or chatting with friends on the adult swings. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

Flanked by a new distillery and corporate headquarters, Midtown Plaza is the setting for a wide range of programmed activities. The City of Carmel provided 124 public events in 2021, from Movies at Midtown and lunchtime concerts to the International Arts Festival, Holiday Trolley rides, and talent competitions open to people of all ages. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associate

Midtown Plaza offers multiple seating choices and year-round activities like ping-pong, pool tables, and corn-hole, then fire pits with lounge seating for the colder months. The new distillery incorporated a second-story patio that offers a unique view overlooking the activity occurring within Midtown Plaza. Image Credit: Daniel Showalter, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

The project’s walking and biking paths are a preferred location for physical exercise by thousands of daily users and a safe, primary route for both regional and local bicycle commuters. The trail counter has recorded thousands of daily users. Image Credit: Daniel Showalter, Rundell Ernstberger Associates

The annual Carmel on Canvas event brings plein air artists from across the Midwest together to create works of art using Carmel as their inspiration. This event allows artists to interact with the public who can see the works of art created. Here an artist is painting the northern end of Monon Boulevard at its intersection with Main Street and the Arts & Design District. Image Credit: Beth Maier, City of Carmel

Carmel provides high-quality programming throughout the year and strives to build a culture of inclusion through events. The Carmel-Xianyang Sister City Committee celebrated the City of Carmel Chinese Mooncake Festival in Midtown. This free public event attracted more than 2,000 participants and featured a dragon parade, music, dancing, and mooncakes. Image Credit: Beth Maier, City of Carmel

The City of Carmel has partnered with Midtown Plaza’s neighbor, Allied Solutions, to sponsor additional events, further engaging the community and fostering a robust schedule of diverse events. The Midtown’s got Talent competition series, sponsored by Allied, brought together talented and entertaining soloists and captivated the audience. Image Credit: Beth Maier, City of Carmel

Midtown Plaza was chosen by the local NFL team, the Indianapolis Colts, to host community viewing parties that attracted more than 5,000 fans, cheerleaders, and even Blue, the team’s mascot, highlighting the uniqueness and charm of the plaza, as the team only hosts one or two annually. Image Credit: Beth Maier, City of Carmel

Standing at 30 feet tall in the Civic Green, the Sail is a vibrant and interactive public art piece that provides visitors multiple methods of experiencing it, both inside and out of the sculpture, as well as during the day and nighttime hours. Image Credit: Beth Maier, City of Carmel

During peak activity periods, a local trolley shuttles riders to other nearby districts, reducing the number of local motor vehicle routes. Image Credit: Beth Maier, City of Carmel

A coordinated design and materials palette featuring a variety of clay, granite, and asphalt pavers lend a distinctive sense of place and composition to the entire Midtown district. Image Credit: Hadley Fruits, Rundell Ernstberger Associates