Carol Johnson | Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – A parcel of land near downtown Bedford that once was a destination for rail passengers will be developed as a new park and playground.
Bedford Mayor Sam Craig said the city is partnering with the Bedford Urban Enterprise Association, which owns the land, on the project.
The property is along J Street, just north of downtown. The BUEA also owns adjacent property to the north.
Planning for the park is in the preliminary stage, but Craig said the city and BUEA envision a playground, picnic area and parking. Priorities also include a soft surface and inclusive play apparatus for the playground, ensuring accessibility for all children. Plans also call for a path that would connect the park to the nearby Milwaukee Trail.
Craig explained this connection will enhance recreation by providing easy access for pedestrians and cyclists, linking the new park to the existing trail.
“I’ve been wanting to put in a nicer park for our citizens,” Craig said. “I feel like the city needs a nice park. This will be a great addition to the city and it’s an ideal location with it being close to our downtown.”
As part of the planning, Craig and BUEA members have visited municipal parks in other cities and will work with a designer on a specific plan for the park. A project timeline and cost won’t be determined until plans for the park are completed.
“Parks are costly and it will be a big undertaking,” Craig said. “We want this to be a great park.”
The city has several parks with playgrounds, including Thornton, Wilson, Brookside, Edgewood, Otis, Centerstone and Garden Park. This new park would be larger than any of the current parks.
Monon history
For decades, the location was the home of the Monon Depot, a passenger station for the Monon Railroad. Built out of local limestone in 1926, the depot served rail passengers through the 1960s when rail service ended. The depot later served as a municipal recycling facility.
In 2020, the Monon Depot was placed on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list of historic structures on the brink of extinction. In 2023, the vacant structure was heavily damaged by fire.
Craig said prior to the fire, the city and BUEA were considering options to renovate and re-purpose the depot, however, those options were no longer viable after the fire.