In Indiana’s rural south, in the community of Borden—which sits closer to Louisville, Kentucky, than Indianapolis—a summer blockbuster came in the form of a trail ground- breaking last July. The town of near- ly 800 welcomed more than 100 peo- ple at an event celebrating the start of the Monon South Trail, planned to span 62.3 miles and bring with it new economic opportunities and fresh connections among eight com- munities and four counties. “There’s so much to be discovered in each of these communities,” said Ron Taylor, a partner and principal at Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group, the trail’s designer. “There are lots of unique things that these communities can play up that are going to start putting their town on the map.” By the end of 2024, a 1.3- mile stretch had been completed in Orleans, followed in January by another 2.4 miles in Mitchell, which anchors the northwestern end of the trail. Borden, at the trail’s southeastern end, as well as a handful of other communities in the middle, will see their sections open later this year—20 miles in 2025 all told. Many of these communities owe their existence to the Monon Railroad (also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railroad) that began operating here in the 1850s. Don Caudell, Mitchell’s mayor, used to walk the high school track in town every morning before work. Now, he enjoys using the new stretch of trail, which passes through downtown near the aptly named Railroad Café and Lounge and the county’s tourism center, along with residential neighborhoods. Since its opening, he said the trail is bringing the community together, and he envisions it
Indiana’s Monon South Trail The 62-mile trail project is boosting a regional rebirth in southern Indiana.
By Erica Sweeney
Rails to Trails MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2025
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