The mission of the White Lick Creek and Vandalia Trail Alliance, Inc. (WLCVTA) is to facilitate development and support for the Vandalia Trail, a multi-use, off-road trail for non-motorized travel, of the White Lick Creek Greenway for a quiet, more natural trail experience; as well as the protection and conservation of the White Lick Creek and its woodlands for citizens to enjoy Indiana’s natural environment. Both the Vandalia Trail and White Lick Creek Greenway are located on the West Side of Indianapolis.

The Vandalia Trail is a segment of the National Road Heritage Trail, a cross-state multi-use trail to span 160 miles, 30 communities, and years of Hoosier history, stretching from Terre Haute to Richmond.

The White Lick Creek Greenway is a 15-mile segment of the Indy Greenways Full Circle that follows the meandering East White Lick Creek on the extreme western edge of Marion County, connecting with four trail systems, three parks, and five neighborhoods, while passing under historic bridges and through restored natural habitat areas.

The proposed East White Lick Creek Conservation Area, an estimated 102 acres, is located inside the Indianapolis International Airport (IAA) property. Parcel-1 approximate boundary is north IAA property line, east West Perimeter Road, south Sterling Run, west IAA property line at an estimated 49 acres. Parcel-2 approximate boundary is north Sterling Run, east West Perimeter Road, south Tributary East White Lick Creek, west IAA property line at an estimated 53 acres.

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News Coverage and Updates

2024 Updates

After several years of collaboration with supporters and local partners on the west side of Indianapolis, the White Lick Creek and Vandalia Trail Alliance is pleased to announce the following exciting accomplishments and progress that have occurred along the proposed Vandalia Trail corridor in the first half of 2024. Read the full release.

From Jared Evans, Indianapolis City-County Councilor: Walkability/connectivity/trail user champions, you’re probably familiar with the B&O trail, soon to connect downtown Indianapolis, through Speedway and Wayne Township all the way to Brownsburg. But have you heard of the Vandalia Trail? It is another East/West connection that will soon connect downtown Indianapolis through the western parts of the city and Ben Davis and Bridgeport to Plainfield. A few weeks ago, the city put out a Request Qualifications for firms to begin and complete design of the future Vandalia Trail. This is a major milestone in the process of building out this community asset and in large part, a huge thanks due to the effort of the White Lick Creek and Vandalia Trail Alliance, who have worked with community leaders and organizations such as Indy Gateway Inc. to get the city prioritize this future Greenway. You can get additional information through our city trails/greenway through the Indy Greenways Master plan.

Both the B&O trail and the Vandalia Trail will be connected via the future Girl School Rd. multi-use path, which will be constructed late next year as a part of the Girl School Rd. complete streets improvements, which will also see the entire road repaved.  

2022 Updates

This winter, Plainfield began construction of the 2.3-mile extension to its Vandalia Trail to the east. The current activity is along the north side of US-40.

2020 Updates

Best Places to Bike in Indiana (WishTV)

OWN OF PLAINFIELD LANDS NEXT LEVEL TRAILS GRANT

PLAINFIELD, IN –Governor Eric Holcomb announced Thursday the Town of Plainfield is one of eighteen communities to receive Round 2 funding of the State of Indiana’s Next Level Trails Grant. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources created the Next Level Trails program to financially support the development of regionally and locally significant trails throughout Indiana. The Town of Plainfield will use the awarded $1,712,000 to extend the existing Vandalia Trail 2.3 miles. 

The Vandalia Trail is part of the National Road Heritage Trail (NRHT), a cross-state trail project envisioned to stretch 150 miles from Terre Haute to Richmond using the former Pennsylvania and Vandalia rail corridors.  The Trail closely follows the Historic National Road (US40/Plainfield’s Main Street) for much of its route. The Vandalia Trail extension will complete the National Road Heritage Trail across the entire width of Plainfield. The extension will improve connectivity east of the Township Line Road trailhead to the Hendricks County/Marion County line, where the new Raceway Road monument sits.

“The Town of Plainfield is excited to make this final connection of the Vandalia Trail within the Town’s limits,” said Town Manager, Andrew Klinger. “We look forward to working with Hendricks County in the future on our shared vision for connecting Plainfield’s trail to sections of the National Road Heritage Trail built by the County.”

This newly constructed portion of the Vandalia Trail will not only enhance the recreation and alternative transportation opportunities for residents, but it will also intersect with an existing path along the Ronald Reagan Parkway that connects Plainfield to the Town of Avon and the Town of Brownsburg.

“On behalf of the Town Council, we are grateful the State saw the value in investing in our trails masterplan,” said Robin Brandgard, the Town of Plainfield Town Council President. “Plainfield is known regionally for our trails, parks and our Splash Island Waterpark, and we are eager to expand our trail network to create a more accessible community for those who live, work and play here.”

Planning and design for the project is set to begin immediately with construction activity targeted to get underway in 2022.