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Indianapolis seeks rider and walker feedback on Cultural Trail sign redesign
New signs along downtown’s Washington Street are testing ways to help people find nearby destinations and navigate the 10-mile Cultural Trail. Public feedback gathered through Dec. 15 will shape a citywide signage program funded by a $2 million grant.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is testing new wayfinding signs along downtown’s Washington Street and asking trail users to weigh in before a broader redesign takes shape.
The pilot is intended to make connections to nearby cultural institutions easier to spot and understand. The signs include trail maps, information about nearby places and tips for using the route. Their layout varies by audience: signs facing pedestrians carry more text, while those aimed at cyclists and other faster-moving users are designed for a quicker glance. Some are mounted along the trail and others on nearby light poles.
The 10-mile trail’s distinctive brick paving has long served as a visual guide. But Kären Haley, executive director of Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc., said the city has grown around the route since it was developed nearly 20 years ago, and users need clearer information about what lies ahead and how far the trail continues.
Feedback is being collected through an online survey until Dec. 15. The trail organization also plans to use QR codes and conduct interviews with people using the route. Responses will inform final designs for a wayfinding system planned across the full trail, with installation expected by the end of 2028.
The project is funded by a $2 million READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grant. The Washington Street signs are a pilot, giving trail users an opportunity to influence how the eventual system serves people moving through downtown on foot or by bike.