FRENCH LICK, Ind. (October 27, 2025) – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) has announced that the City of South Bend is the recipient of a 2025 Aim Placemaking Award for The Link Trail project. The city was recognized during the Annual Awards Luncheon, presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, on Wednesday, October 22, at the 2025 Aim Ideas Summit in French Lick. South Bend received the award in the greater than 50,000 population category.
The Link Trail, a 1.5-mile multi-use path, connects downtown South Bend with the University of Notre Dame, bridging a gap that existed for decades between two of the city’s most vibrant areas. For decades, there was no safe, direct non-vehicular route between campus and downtown. Guided by Complete Streets principles, the city reallocated existing right-of-way without acquiring new land to create wider sidewalks, raised intersections, landscaped buffers, and a fully separated trail.
The $11.5 million project was funded equally by the City of South Bend, Visit South Bend Mishawaka, and the University of Notre Dame. Today, the Link Trail connects schools, businesses, restaurants, and attractions like East Race Market, Seitz Park, and Howard Park. It reduces car dependency, promotes wellness, and builds community pride with branding, signage, and landscaping. At the dedication, residents, students, and civic leaders gathered for a ribbon cutting and walk.
Aim CEO Matt Greller praised South Bend’s achievement, noting, “For as long as I can remember, South Bend leaders have been unafraid to innovate and find creative ways to enhance the quality of place in their community. Their success remains a credit to the city’s emphasis on collaboration and problem solving. The Link Trail represents a safe, convenient, and attractive amenity for residents and students to enjoy as they travers to and from the Notre Dame campus and downtown South Bend. The city’s Placemaking Award is a well-earned honor, and I applaud the city for their continued commitment to place-based development.”
Learn more about the completed project here:
The Placemaking Award recognizes completed projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to addressing municipal challenges. These initiatives should showcase how planning, revitalization, or economic development efforts have improved the physical environment and enhanced the economic and social well-being of the community. Eligible projects must include a completed physical component within the past year. Awards are presented in multiple population categories based on nominations received.
In its 49th year, the Aim Annual Awards program, presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC, recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A seven-member panel of qualified judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.
Conference Facts:
2025 Aim Ideas Summit
October 21-23, 2025
French Lick Springs Resort | French Lick, Indiana
Attendance: 1,100 (pending final registration count)
Further information: www.aimindiana.org
Since the 1890s, Aim, formerly the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, has been an advocate for Indiana municipalities. Aim is the official voice of municipal government in Indiana, with more than 460 cities and towns as members. Our purpose is to foster, promote and advocate for the success of Hoosier municipalities as laboratories of innovation, hubs of talent and the engines driving our state’s economy.