Residents who live near where a new Greenwood trail is being considered want to be able to walk or bike to nearby parks, but also want to make sure their homes and privacy are safe.
Those were the points raised by about 20 residents in a meeting last week where Greenwood city officials discussed their idea for a new trail along an IPL easement that the electric utility uses for power lines on the northwest side of the city. The half-mile trail would connect to sidewalks along County Line Road just south of Community Hospital South and to a trail north of Greenwood Fire Station 92 that leads into Northwest Park.
Now, city officials want to consider feedback from residents before deciding if the new trail should be built. Depending on the path the trail follows, it would cross the properties of 15 to 20 residents.
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Some residents were concerned about the loss of privacy and the potential for increased crime. Others said the trail would provide a way for them to access nearby parks, as well as reduce the amount of maintenance they are required to do on property that they can’t in the easement.
The utility easement is an idea location for a trail because it will allow the city to connect other parks, trails and sidewalks that are built or planned in the area, Greenwood Parks and Recreation Department Director Rob Taggart said. The city is also considering trails that would connect Northwest Park to Northwest Park Annex, as well as one from Northwest Park to Westside Park.
Mike Sweeney’s family has lived in a home along where the trail could be built for 22 years, and his main concern is maintaining the privacy of his backyard, he said.
He is concerned about having people walking past his home every day.
“I don’t want the foot traffic,” Sweeney said.
To address privacy concerns, portions of the trail could include shrubs, fences or screens, said Josh Eisenhauer, a representative of VS Engineering, the city’s contractor for the project.
Some residents also expressed concerns about the potential for increased crime, but trails elsewhere in the city haven’t been problem spots for crime, Greenwood Police Assistant Chief Matt Fillenwarth said.
Vonda Ford, who has lived in the Imperial Hills neighborhood for 45 years, and her husband, Bud Ford, purchased their home before the power lines were built.
Their backyard is divided by a stream, and they are still required to mow the other side, which means a half-mile walk to a spot where they can cross the stream and come back, she said. If the city chooses a route for the trail that goes along the stream, that could mean less maintenance work for the couple, she said.
A timeline for the project hasn’t been determined. The city will decide whether it wants to move forward with the construction of the trail by the end of the summer, Taggart said.
How much the trail would cost and when it would be built isn’t known yet, he said. The city would need to get permission from both IPL and the homeowners whose properties the trail would cross, Taggart said.
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Greenwood is considering building a new trail on the northwest side of the city. Here’s a look at some details about the project.
The location:
The trail is planned in a half-mile electric utility easement between County Line Road and Fry Road. The trail would go from County Line Road south of Community Hospital South to trails near Fire Station 92 north of Fry Road.
The trail:
The asphalt trail would be about 8 feet wide, with some shrubs, fencing or screens on the side to protect the privacy of nearby residents.
Resident feedback:
Residents who want to provide feedback on the project have until Aug. 1 to do so. They can contact the parks and recreation department at 317-881-4545.
The timeline:
A decision on whether the trail will be built is planned to be made by the end of the summer.
What’s next:
Should the city decide to move forward with the trail, workers would visit properties along the easement to get permission from homeowners to do survey work and begin negotiations for purchasing land for the trail.
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