As President of the Cardinal Greenways Board of Directors, I want to personally address an issue that many of you have noticed and, understandably, have questions about: the condition of the Cardinal Greenway north of Muncie, between Riggin Road and State Road 28.

I know this section of the Greenway is important to many of our trail users. It is a beautiful part of our trail system, and one that is enjoyed by cyclists, runners, walkers, families, and countless others. I also know that the current condition of the trail has been frustrating and disappointing.

I want you to know that it has been frustrating and disappointing for us, too.

Over time, we have invested substantial funds attempting to address problems with this section of trail. Unfortunately, the results have not been what we expected or what we wanted for our trail users. Significant subsurface issues have continued to cause serious failures in the asphalt, including deep cracks and other hazards that made the trail unsafe.

After considerable discussion and deliberation, we made the difficult decision to grind the trail surface to remove the most significant hazards. I understand that the resulting loose gravel surface is not ideal—especially for those of you who ride bicycles. We know this is not the type of surface you expect when you come to the Cardinal Greenway.

But we also have a responsibility to put safety first.

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 in reducing the immediate hazards on this section of the Greenway.

We are also planning additional work later this year, when our contractor is available, to improve the current surface by adding more fine material and performing additional compaction. We hope these improvements will make the trail more stable and usable while we work toward a long-term solution.

We are committed to this trail. We are committed to our trail users.

If you believe, as I do, that the Cardinal Greenway is an important part of our community and our region, I ask you to consider supporting us.

A donation can help us maintain the trails we have today, address the challenges we face, and invest in the future of this incredible resource. We also welcome those who want to volunteer their time and talents to help Cardinal Greenways succeed.

Sincerely,

Kyle Johnson, President of the Board of Directors