Late Summer 2026
Dear Friends of the Cardinal Greenway:
We are in the midst of what will probably be noted as our most challenging year in our history. First and foremost, I want to thank you for your support over the years and for sharing our passion and goals to keep the Cardinal Greenway here and ridable for generations to come. The donations we receive, no matter the amount, are crucial to our efforts and so appreciated.
Last year was the year of trail closures and detours for our own project and INDOT improvements. Unfortunately, this year, the age of our asphalt and faults beneath the trail surface have caused quite the interruption to accessing the trail. In particular, sections in the northern portion of Delaware County remain in a trail renovation phase. We appreciate the patience and understanding of each trail user as we work to find a long-term solution for the cracks and failure of the trail in this section. To quote our Board President “Our first priority must always be the safety of the people who use our trails. While the current surface is not perfect, removing the dangerous cracks and failed asphalt was an important step to reducing the immediate hazards on this section of the Greenway.” We will be raising funds to first conduct a geotechnical engineering analysis to identify the best long-term solution for these areas.
No one was prepared for the historic flooding event this past August. Those flood waters caused significant damage to sections of our trail in Delaware, Henry, Randolph and Wayne Counties. We are in the stage of evaluating the damage and working toward a way to reopen the 3 sections of closed trail while we search for additional funds for repair work.
The above two unprecedented maintenance projects are at the top of our list for needed funds. Both long-time supporters and active trail users know of our annual day to day operating needs and have always chosen to step up and help us with these as well as other special projects. Over the years we have listed some of these operational costs and they include but are not limited to: portable toilet costs for the trail season – $16,000; trail insurance – $89,000; equipment repair and upkeep – $10,500; fuel costs for equipment and trucks – $13,000. The above is just a quick snapshot and not meant to be a deep dive of our budget.
The last two years of fund-raising letters have taken on a different tone as the trail ages and complex problems happen. Ongoing conversations are happening with the Board executives and our long-term planning and funding committee to strategize the next needed best steps to move our beloved trail organization forward and keep it here for generations to come. We know with your support we can bring the trail back up to a “favorite trail” status and ensure another 33 plus years.
We are hopeful you will once again support our efforts with a donation. The Cardinal Greenway remains one of the few privately owned, nonprofit managed trail systems in the country. Your donations are certainly the lifeblood of our trail and help more than you know. As always, reach out with questions, join our events, help us advocate for our trail and others across our state and beyond. Together we can keep the Cardinal Greenway a destination trail and here for generations to enjoy.
With heartfelt thanks,
Angie Pool, CEO
Cardinal Greenway, Inc.
PS: You can make your gift online and/or stay up to date on the trail closures, events and more by visiting our website: www.cardinalgreenways.org