NEW ALBANY – Indiana Governor Mike Braun is enhancing quality of place across Indiana with investments from the Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI). Today in New Albany, local and regional officials celebrated progress of the Monon South Trail – a repurposing of the former rail line into an approximately 60-mile trail that will run north from New Albany, supporting quality of life, talent retention and attraction, and business development opportunities across the region.
“The Monon South Trail is an impressive reimagining of an abandoned rail line into a modern and vibrant amenity that will attract, connect and support Hoosiers,” said Gov. Braun. “The New Albany portion of this trail will bring new life to the community while preserving the assets that pay homage to the city’s rich history. I congratulate New Albany on the significant progress made so far and look forward to the completion of Indiana’s longest recreational trail in southern Indiana.”
The New Albany section of the trail, named the Monon South Freedom Trail, will run through downtown from Fairview Cemetery and Bank Street, connecting to the Ohio River Greenway at East 10th Street. Development of the 1.46-mile asphalt, multi-use trail began in August 2025. Today, officials cut the ribbon on the southern segment and broke ground on the northern segment, signaling progress of a region-wide collaborative effort to increase opportunity for Hoosiers.
The Monon South Freedom Trail is being supported with $4 million in READI funding for the southern segment and through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ trail grant program that facilitates trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. Once complete, the Monon South Trail – and the Monon South Freedom Trail segment in New Albany – will represent the longest continuous recreational trail in Indiana, connecting five counties, eight towns and cities, and three additional cities and towns by way of the Ohio River Greenway Trail.
“In Indiana, we’re investing like never before to enhance our communities and ensure that we offer top destinations for talent and families to live and work,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich. “The creation and improvement of outdoor parks, trails and gathering spaces like the Monon South Freedom Trail through New Albany are the types of assets people look for when deciding where to live. Thanks to READI and the vision of this region, current and future generations of Hoosiers will have access to this incredible amenity.”
Indiana’s READI program is a $1.25 billion investment in regional-led strategies designed to strengthen communities, retain and attract top talent, and increase opportunities for Hoosiers for years to come.
New Albany is part of the five-county Our Southern Indiana region led by the Our Southern Indiana RDA that was awarded $95 million in READI matching funds to grow quality of life, quality of place, and quality of opportunity. The region’s READI plans are designed to catalyze regional growth, with an emphasis on impacting rural and disadvantaged communities; increase housing availability; leverage business and innovation parks to expand employment opportunities; partner with regional universities to grow educational attainment and innovation activity; and ensure quality of life amenities like childcare access and affordability.
Learn more at IndianaREADI.com.
