SPEEDWAY — Race season in Speedway may have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean things are slowing down.
The Speedway Trails group is holding its fifth annual Walk/Run/Ride event Sept. 15 with a goal of expanding the trail system in town, as part of the Speedway Spectacular festival.
Check-in starts at 7 a.m. in shelter one at Leonard Park for the 3.4- or 4.5-mile trail route that takes a loop around Speedway, highlighting the history of the town and moving into Eagle Creek Park for a more scenic aspect. Bicyclists start at 8 a.m. while runners will start at 8:15 and 8:20 a.m.
The event began as a collaboration with the B&O Trail Association as the Speedway Trails connect west into Hendricks County.
“Part of the (B&O Trail) is in Speedway ... a mile and a half of it,” said Beverly Katterhenry, president of Speedway Trails. “In order to get support, we need a five-mile loop. Our trail includes two abandoned railroads, the B&O Trail on the southern part, and is connected by Main Street. On the west side it’s connected by Eagle Creek Trail.”
The circle the trail will travel goes through historic Speedway, up Main Street, and through the Eagle Creek Trail — encompassing woods, shopping centers, and a natural dirt path.
“You can see a little bit of everything,” Katterhenry said. “To connect downtown to the cultural trail, the B&O Trail needs to go all the way downtown. We chose a five-mile loop in Speedway because there’s a bridge missing and we can’t go west until we get our trail developed, and then we can connect.”
Katterhenry said the event usually draws about 120 people and is not a race, but rather a family event. Dogs are welcome as well.
The Walk/Run/Ride is the beginning of a festive day that will includes the Speedway Lions Club and Speedway Optimist Club parade at 11 a.m., followed by a Chili Cook Off and festival at 12:30 p.m. at Leonard Park.
Main Street from 16th Street to 10th Street will be closed for all but emergency traffic. It will open at the conclusion of the parade. From Lynhurst Drive to Main Street, 15th Street will also be closed for all but emergency traffic. There is no on street parking and residents are asked to park on adjacent streets or at the rear of residences, if it does not hinder traffic flow.
Speedway Police Captain Jason Dierdorff said the biggest challenge his department faces will be traffic control.
“We have a lot of construction going on right now with portions of 10th Street closed,” he said. “All the traffic is being detoured on Lynhurst and really to Auburn Street the day of the parade and we’re closing down portions of Main Street for the parade.”
Temporary “no parking” signs will be posted on Main Street for both the east and west sides of the street at about 4 p.m. Sept. 14, however, enforcement is not to take place until 6 a.m. Sept. 15. After that time, vehicles parked on Main Street between 16th and 10th streets will be towed at the owners’ expense.
The rules are the same for the no parking signs that will be placed on both the north and south sides of 15th Street between Lynhurst Drive and Main Street, as well as on the east and west sides of Allison Avenue between 16th and 14th streets.
All parking restrictions will be lifted at the conclusion of the parade.
For more information on the Speedway Trails Association and its upcoming event, visit the website at speedwaytrails.org. For more information on the Speedway Spectacular weekend, visit the website at townofspeedway.org.tionals.”
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