INDIANA – The Monon South Trail, a developing 60-mile stretch connecting Lawrence and Clark counties, will soon feature a unique artistic element celebrating the identities of its neighboring communities. Six limestone sculptures, each paying homage to the local high school mascots, are currently being carved by Kopelov Cut Stone in Bedford.
The initiative, commissioned by Radius Indiana, the developer of the Monon South Trail, aims to enhance the trail experience and foster a sense of local pride. Radius Indiana utilized funds from the READI 1.0 program to bring this creative vision to life. Local sculptor Amy Brier was enlisted to design and create clay models for Kopelov Cut Stone to follow in their carving process.
The sculptures are specifically designed to resonate with the heritage of the trail communities:
- A carving of an Uncle Sam hat will represent Campbellsburg, home of the West Washington Senators.
- New Pekin, home of the Pekin Eastern Musketeers, will feature a cavalier hat.
- Salem’s sculpture, located near the restored L&N boxcar, draws inspiration from the literary series The Boxcar Children depicts a symbolic representation of the children’s makeshift home.
- Additional sculptures are planned for other trail communities, with their specific designs yet to be fully unveiled in this announcement.
Kopelov Cut Stone, located at 2321 39th St. in Bedford, is undertaking the intricate carving work. The company, specializing in historic restoration and custom carving, relocated to Bedford from New Mexico in 2015 to be closer to the region’s renowned limestone industry.
The first sculpture to be completed is an Orleans bulldog. Standing at an impressive 5 feet 9 inches tall, the carving is intentionally sized to be a perfect backdrop for selfies with trail users.
According to Kopelov Cut Stone, all six limestone sculptures are expected to be completed by September this year, adding a distinctive and community-focused artistic element to the Monon South Trail.
