Two popular amenities within the Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation network will be expanded.
Here’s what Hamilton County residents can expect:
White River Greenway extension
A new section of the White River Greenway, located on the very northeastern part of Carmel, opened recently. The new section includes a trailhead, located at 14001 River Road and an overlook of the river.
There’s already plans in the works to keep extending the trail. Carmel city councilors approved the appropriation of about $175,000 park impact fee dollars to extend the trail south. And the parks department was previously awarded a $400,000 grant through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Indiana Trails Program to assist with the project.
Funding will support construction of a 12-foot-wide, half-mile paved section of the White River Greenway within Hazel Landing Park. The new trail will begin at The 106 Trail, an east-west multi-use trail that connects Carmel, Fishers and Zionsville, and crosses the White River over the Bur Oak Bridge, which opened in 2025. From there, the trail will continue south over Blue Woods Creek and through a forested, undeveloped portion of the park, before following the White River and reconnecting with an existing perimeter trail along Hazel Dell Parkway.
Additional phases are planned, subject to future funding, to extend the southern section north through Hazel Landing Park and ultimately connect to the perimeter trail along 116th Street, according to the parks department. Construction timelines will be announced as planning progresses.
Kawachinagano Japanese Garden expansion
The parks department received $750,000 from the City of Carmel to expand the popular Kawachinagano Japanese Garden, which is located adjacent to City Hall. The project builds on the recent redesign and reopening of the garden, which was completed in spring of this year.
The next phase of construction will begin in October and is expected to be completed by Spring 2027. The project will expand the Japanese Garden into the area between the existing northern garden and the southern stormwater retention pond.
The expansion will be designed by Japanese landscape designer Hoichi Kurisu, who also led the garden’s redesign. The project will introduce a new waterfall and extend the garden into previously undeveloped space. Expansion of the garden will also include a loop trail around the southern stormwater retention pond.
The Japanese Garden at Carmel City Hall was created to celebrate Carmel’s Sister City relationship with Kawachinagano, Japan. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 23, 2007, and it was completed in 2009. The garden is free and open to the public.
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19. Click here to get Hamilton County news sent straight to your inbox and subscribe to the IndyStar North newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Japanese Garden, White River trail expansions coming to Carmel
Reporting by Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
