News Jan-Apr 2006

Governor Daniels will be holding a press conference to announce the Indiana Trails Plan Summit and to highlight the effort to develop a trails plan for Indiana. This conference will take place along the Vandalia Trail in Plainfield next to the new Aquatic Center at 651 Vestal Road, Plainfield on Wednesday, April 26th at 10:00 am. The Vandalia Trail will be part of the National Road Heritage Trail.

The public is invited to attend this event, which will be is an unprecedented opportunity for trail supporters in Indiana.

Please contact us for more information.

Cross-State Trail Group Publishes Vision - March 28, 2006
submitted by Greg Midgley, NRHT President

On March 14, 2006, NRHT's consultant, Storrow Kinsella Associates, published the 9-volume NRHT Development Guide, documenting the proposed route of the 150-mile cross-state multi-use trail and providing a blueprint for how to realize it on both the local and state levels. This 14-month, $100,000 project was produced in cooperation with the Indiana Office of Tourism Development through the Lt. Governor's Quality of Place Initiative and with matching grants from:
- Efroymson Fund (Central Indiana Community Foundation)
- Greenways Foundation
- Central Indiana Bicycling Association Foundation
- Wabash Valley Community Foundation (Vigo County), and
- private donations.

The Indiana Trails Fund managed the finances for the project.

This comprehensive planning document is now being distributed to state agencies, local governments, and citizens' groups along the route. All are encouraged to take advantage of this landmark resource to plan and develop new sections of the trail and to connect with neighboring projects. Storrow Kinsella Associates created a very user-friendly format for this document. One volume gives the Statewide overview along with common guidelines and themes. Eight separate volumes provide detailed local information for each of the 8 counties.

Groups can contact NRHT, Inc to arrange for a printed copy and CD or can visit the NRHT web site to view and download PDF files of the volumes. NRHT, Inc encourages use of the electronic version to minimize printing and shipping costs.

Vandalia Trail in Hendricks County

A new section of trail was opened this past year along the NRHT by a collaboration between NRHT, Inc, Indiana Trails Fund, the towns of Amo and Coatesville, and the Amo-Coatesville Sewer Conservancy. Known as the Vandalia Trail, it connects these southwest Hendricks County towns with a 3-mile rustic hiking trail along the former Vandalia Railroad line. The towns and the Conservancy made available the 160' wide corridor at no cost because of their strong desire to have such a facility nearby. Volunteers cleared and opened the basic trail within 6 months and continue to improve it. Current projects include decking the scenic trestle at the trail's midpoint to ease the crossing of Crittenden Creek and clearing a parallel equestrian trail. Future plans include a hard-packed crushed limestone surface for bicycles.

Trail Planning, Research, and Marketing

- A team of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology civil engineering students completed a 9-week feasibility study on a 7-mile NRHT route from Terre Haute to Illinois. Their recommended route closely followed the route of the Historic National Road. The results were included in the NRHT Development Guide.
- The city of Terre Haute is moving forward with plans to extend the original 5-mile NRHT by a quarter mile to the east to connect to a new trailhead at Chamberlain Road.
- Greencastle and INDOT approved a change in a local trail plan that will create an NRHT route across town. This Campus Link Trail will also connect with the popular nearby DePauw University Nature Park.
- The town of Plainfield is still on track to complete their cross-town 5-mile Vandalia Rail-Trail in 2007. This includes expanding in both directions from their existing 1.5-mile paved trail between Franklin Park and Saratoga Parkway.
- The Indiana Department of Transportation and Department of Natural Resources strengthened their support in Henry County's quest to purchase 10 miles of corridor along the proposed NRHT.
- The cross-state NRHT received its 70th endorsement.
- Tom McCain collaborated with the NRHT, Inc board to create the cross-state NRHT logo on the web site and in the NRHT Development Guide.
- Clark & Cumberland counties in Illinois are managing a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and a year-long research project by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior engineering students to determine the feasibility of a 38-mile section of NRHT in Illinois to connect with Indiana's NRHT at the state line. Storrow Kinsella Associates is consulting for the Clark County greenways network research. The separate but related research by the team of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students on the NRHT route across Clark and into Cumberland County will be completed this Spring.

16-mile Rail-Trail Planned on Erie Line - March 21, 2006
submitted by Bruce Fingerhut

A soft June breeze wafts across a gently rolling landscape; to your right golf carts amble over the lush and wooded fairways of Chesapeake Run Golf Course, in the distance you hear the festive whistle of the Hoosier Valley Rail Museum’s Saturday excursion train. The smooth asphalt rolls under your bike’s two wheels as a day hiking family greets you. A mile ahead, a line of horseback riders plods and sways.

That’s the future local volunteers have envisioned for the former Erie-JK Line Railroad between Monterey and North Judson, a sixteen-mile laser-straight corridor. From much of the corridor the rails and ties have been removed, but it’s not an abandoned right-of-way. “At the Hoosier Valley Rail Museum (HVRM) we refer to the former Erie line as a federal rail bank/interim trail use corridor”, says Mark Knebel [identify his office]. “The corridor is under the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and may someday host an active railroad again.”

So someday a futuristic train – maybe a monorail, perhaps even a mag-lev – may whiz down this line, headed for Chicago. But until then, the land won’t be wasted. Soon, perhaps this summer, portions of the corridor will open as a trail offering much-needed family outdoor recreation opportunities for non-motorized use. “The corridor is 100 feet wide,” says Bruce Fingerhut, chair of the HVRM’s new trail committee. “The trail will be available to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians (horseback riders) – the horses will have a separate path. At first, the bicycling trail will have a compacted gravel surface, but we intend to install a paved path for smooth cycling in the next phase. This fall we received a grant from the Starke County Community Foundation that will enable us to lay down crushed stone on our pilot project area. There’s railroad ballast there now, but it’s too large for a trail. ”

“People need to get more exercise,” says committee volunteer Marty Lucas. “But if you’re like me, you can’t get excited about going to a gym. I like the outdoors, seeing the countryside and the wildlife – when we were walking the trail near Bass last spring a coyote ran across right in front of us. That makes exercise fun, more of an adventure.” Most of the trail goes through woods and fields, and it’s especially scenic where it crosses the Tippecanoe River, near Ora. “The bridge over the Tippecanoe is an amazing structure, with four behemoth steel boxes and stone piers. It’s a real monument of the industrial age,” says Lucas, “but it’s not safe for public use yet, that’s why the trail isn’t open.” Lucas explained that much of the corridor is railbanked with the Indiana Trails Fund (ITF). With special permission from the ITF, committee members hiked the trail to document its condition.

Massive doubletrack Erie-JK bridge over the Tippecanoe River

To ensure safety, before the trail can be opened to the public it must meet code requirements for rural trails. A segment between County Roads 100W and 250W, east of North Judson, was selected as a pilot project. The committee decked the bridge over Bogus Run just north of Chesapeake Run Golf Course in 2005. The effort hasn’t been without problems though. “We had some damage to the bridge this winter,” says committee volunteer Rhonda Milner. “We’re putting together a covered bridge over the Bogus, so we can meet the trail rules requirements and make it look nice too. We were all a little upset when we found that some of the lumber had been broken either by thieves or vandals. We made a police report, but I hope people will understand this is a volunteer project for everybody, and help out.”

Summary of Central Wabash Greenways Charrette in Delphi - March 21, 2006
submitted by Dan McCain of Delphi Historic Trails

The Canal Center in Delphi was the site (March 9, 2006) where 75 representatives from six county gathered. They came to mutually work toward linking communities and natural / scenic attractions. A Purdue Landscape Architecture class is coordinating these efforts under the direction of Professor Bernie Dahl. The process involved a local meeting in each county and then the full day session called a "charrette."

Enthusiasm prevailed with the representatives from outlying counties: White, Cass, Howard, Clinton, Tippecanoe and Carroll (in the middle). This effort started in Carroll several years ago when the first Tourist Guide was printed. Brian Stirm had obtained permission from the County Commissioners to place colorful road signs on the county posts that directed the traveler to scenic and historic spots in the county.

Many of the participants declared that this Central Wabash Greenways charrette was great. One participant David McCain said the attendees "caught the spirit and enthusiasm of the potential for trails all over the 6 county region." Rory Robinson from the National Park Service chaired the charrette and he specifically encouraged river trail systems in the many things that participates were to identify and record on maps.

McCain interpreted from Robinson's statements that "streams themselves are to be viewed as trails so to include recreational canoeing as an important use. Another form of surface connecting comes from blacktop BYWAYS that already exist in all counties. The big challenge is to select blacktop low use roads that lead to scenic, historic attractions and are safe and enjoyable for the motorist, bikers and hikers.

Long term and possibly more difficult to establish is a network of hiking / biking trails using abandoned railbeds or other corridors to connect attractions -- example Adams Mill near Cutler, Canal Park in Delphi or routes between towns. More involvement by landowners would be required with this form of transit. Initially the county roadways might be marked for connecting Delphi Historic Trails to Prophetstown State Park.

Charrette participants were involved all day and were treated to a meal sponsored by the Monticello / White County Chamber of Commerce. At noon the speaker was Ray Irvin, new Greenways and Bikeways Director at INDOT. Ray was the former trail development director in Indianapolis that left popular marks on the landscape -- one of the most popular is the Monon Trail from Fall Creek past Broad Ripple and north to Carmel.

The Purdue class is working on a semester project and the outcome will be reported back to these six counties later in April. This spring the Carroll County Tourism group is releasing a revised "tour guide" that will contain already marked byways that take bikers and motorists on backroads to Lockport / Georgetown, Cutler and many points east, west, north and south. Watch for a copy of the new guide in about 6-8 weeks.

Aurora Announces Trail Dedication March 4th - March 1, 2006

announcement from the City of Aurora
Grab a friend, grab your bike, or lace up your walking/running shoes – the Aurora section of Dearborn Trails is now open to the public! This multi-use hiking and biking trail, a paved pathway that runs approximately two miles from Manchester Landing to the Tanner’s Creek bridge in Lawrenceburg, is a flat and level surface ideal for fitness buffs of all ages. It will be linked with a similar trail in the nearby community of Lawrenceburg later in 2006, and may one day be linked to Greendale’s trail as well. Together, the three form the Dearborn Trails project.

submitted by Richard M. Ullrich, Jr.
A new chapter in Dearborn County recreation history will begin on March 4, 2006 as we officially dedicate and open the Aurora section of the Dearborn Trails (see Aurora-Lawrenceburg Trail). Designed for all non-motorized types of trail recreation such as biking, walking and running, Dearborn Trails stretches from Aurora to Lawrenceburg connecting our communities through scenic beauty and providing new fitness opportunities. Please join us for Aurora s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Saturday, March 4th, at Manchester Landing (behind CVS), beginning at 11:00 a.m. Aurora Mayor Donnie Hastings Jr., along with special guest Eric Neuburger, Director of the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports will proudly present Dearborn County citizens their first opportunity to experience this unique local asset. For more information please call Main Street Aurora, 812-926-1100.

Benefits of the trail include:

Alternative transportation benefit: Those who desire a more healthy mode of transportation can travel between Aurora, Lawrenceburg, Greendale and, eventually, Rising Sun, and will enjoy the option of a safe and beautiful alernative to the insanity of "the gauntlet" of Highway 50.

Economic benefit: Communities with a quality trail system are known to have improved living standards due to the private investment in housing, small businesses and sporting activities that take place near the trail system.

Local, Regional and National benefit: Our area is recognized for providing leadership for the 5 year regional trail system plan that is creating trail links along all Ohio River communities from New Richmond, Ohio to Rising Sun, Indiana. We are also part of the Ohio River Scenic Route and American Discovery Trail, regional and national efforts to rediscover the roots and routes of our heritage.

North Central Indiana to Hold Trail Planning Charrette - February 17, 2006

The counties of Carroll, Cass, Howard, Clinton, Tippecanoe and White are the subject of a day-long trail and greenway planning charrette to be held on Thursday, March 9th in Delphi, at the Canal Interpretive Center, from 8AM to 4:30PM. Charrettes typically provide a forum for public and private citizens to gather and participate in sharing information about current projects, identifying potential trail links along common borders and sparking new ideas about how to collaborate on future projects. The event will be moderated by a group from the Purdue University School of Landscape Architecture, including Professor Bernie Dahl, who has been active in trail projects around the area. Ray Irvin, the state's recently appointed Director of Greenways and Bikeways, will be in attendance as well as other representatives from the area and statewide groups. Read more in the Monticello Herald-Journal article.

Carroll County residents, including Dan McCain of Delphi Historic Trails, have been working to make the area a significant tourist attraction. The Stay Another Day initiative is one example, meant to entice visitors to Indiana Beach in Monticello to extend their visits and explore the surroundings. The Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center and Delphi Historic Trails, as well as the city of Delphi itself, have become a destination for history buffs and trail buffs alike. The Wabash & Erie Canal Association recently received grants to build a replica canal boat and offer rides along the 1-mile restored canal in Delphi, which was once the nation's longest working canal at over 400 miles long. One potential trail project which in the county is the Monon Trail, which could span the cities of Monticello, Delphi and Frankfort. Delphi Historic Trails has already opened a 1-mile section of the trail just north of the spectacular Deer Creek bridge. A pre-charrette meeting for Carroll County will be held in the Canal Center on Thursday, February 23rd at 7PM, open to the public, to look at short term and long term byways connections to neighboring communities.

Several Howard County residents are interested in working toward forming a working grassroots group to support trails in Kokomo and the surrounding area. A preliminary meeting was held in Kokomo on February 9th which has identified a number of opportunities in the area, including a trail connection between Kokomo and the Nickel Plate Trail just to the north. Activists are being sought to continue and lead this volunteer activity. Please contact Charlie Skoog of the Wildcat Creek Foundation for more information - runckrr @ aol.com or 765.457.2607.

Tippecanoe County, which has a strong trail system in West Lafayette and a pedestrian-friendly area in downtown Lafayette, is also seeking advocates to participate in a county-wide trail support group. The Farm Heritage Trail, which has the potential to connect to Indianapolis and become the "Monon Trail" of Lafayette, is in particular need of support. Please contact Pat Dye for more information - paridyes @ aol.com.

Clinton County is in the early stages of forming a county-wide support group centered in Frankfort. The group is looking at ways to promote the Monon Trail to Delphi and to connect with the Farm Heritage Trail, which was recently endorsed by the county commissioners, at Colfax and Clarks Hill. Frankfort mayor Don Stock has been a strong advocate for trails and has been instrumental in Clinton County's initial efforts. Please contact the mayor at dstock @ cityoffrankfort.net for more information.

Other trail charrettes that have taken place around the state in recent years include the areas of Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Northwest Indiana, Greater Louisville, and Greater Cincinnati.

Preliminary I-69 Plans Show Trail from Indy to Bloomington - February 17, 2006

State Greenways and Bikeways Director Ray Irvin, who is with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), announced today that current I-69 plans include a 42-mile multi-use trail between Indianapolis and Bloomington. The trail would require no additional right-of-way for the proposed highway project. Irvin stated that trail plans may be extended to Evansville if enough interest is shown. The announcement was made at a statewide conference for the IN BikePort concept.

Historically, INDOT has not supported the inclusion of trails on interstate properties. Trails along interstate highways are not common but do exist in other states. One long-standing example has been the 45-mile asphalt path along I-275 in southeast Michigan, constructed in the 1970's, which is seeing renewed interest from the state and will undergo extensive renovations in coming years.

Monroe County Drafting Master Trails Plan - February 3, 2006

With features such as the vibrant city of Bloomington, karst topography, Indiana's largest lake, and the Hoosier National Forest, Monroe County hosts a wealth of attractions. Ultimately, a master plan and the resulting trails and greenways will further enhance the county’s image, promote healthier lifestyles, expand tourism opportunities and advance the local economy. Building upon the success of the City of Bloomington Alternative Transportation & Greenways System Plan completed in 2001, the Monroe County Plan Commission initiated a Monroe County Alternative Transportation & Greenways System Plan in 2005.

Several new greenway trail opportunities are identified in the draft of the plan, including rail-trails which bisect the county running north-south as well as east-west. The Ellettsville Heritage Trail is under development as part of the north-south greenway corridor, which would connect Stinesville, Ellettsville and Bloomington's emerging urban rail-trail. Other suggested greenways make use of utility and active rail corridors.

The Monroe County Alternative Transportation & Greenways System Plan is being revised to incorporate comments from the Steering Committee, County Commissioners and the public, and should be ready for adoption later in the year. A sneak-peek can be found on Storrow Kinsella's web workroom.

Indy Greenways Legend to Lead State Trail Effort - January 13, 2006

Former Indy Greenways administrator Ray Irvin, who is widely known for leading the development of Indianapolis' world-class greenway network, has been appointed by Governor Daniels to a new position with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Director of Greenways and Bikeways. Irvin began his new position on January 2. While no official announcement has been made, it is believed Irvin will be charged with renewing and advancing trail development efforts on the part of the state government, which have lagged behind those of nearby states. One of the tasks at hand is to convert Transportation Enhancements funds which have already been awarded into usable trails. That process, which is relied upon by most major trail projects, has slowed significantly in recent years. As a result, many projects are becoming indefinitely stalled.

Irvin is also expected to work closely with the Department of Natural Resources to examine opportunities for recreation as well as transportation. One such opportunity identified by HRTC has been the existence of several former rail corridors which are legally available for purchase.

"If Ray can do for Indiana what he has done for Indianapolis, then we're all in for a real treat", wrote Matthew Klein, President of the central Indiana-based Greenways Foundation, in a memo to the Indiana Trails Listserv. Trail activist and health professional Karen Bohn wrote, "I am certain Ray will bring the same enthusiasm and intensity that he provided to Indy Greenways. His vast trail experience, fundraising ability and innovativeness will be a super plus."

Read the comments of columnist Russ Pulliam of the Indianapolis Star.

In December 2005, the Hoosier Rails-to-Trails Council presented a synopsis of the current state of trails in Indiana, including details on crippling problems with trail development and possible remedies, to the Daniels administration. Many of the points in the report are now being added to this website.

Delphi Seeks Funding to Rescue Historic Bridge - January 4, 2006

Several Indiana communities are enjoying the practical, aesthetic and historic benefits of re-using historic, decommissioned road bridges for trail projects. In 2005, several Transportation Enhancements grants were awarded to such projects, generally considered to be high priority for funding. An overview of several examples plus more information about this opportunity can be found on our historic bridges page.

The following was submitted by Dan McCain of Delphi Historic Trails

Old Iron is beautiful! If you believe this, we have a bridge to sell you!

How lucky can we get? After waiting 5 years for a chance at a "one-of-a-kind" historic iron "Stearns Truss" bridge, we have secured such a relic for our Delphi Historic Trails. We can move this unique structure in sections--it's pinned together not riveted and moved once before in 1913. Then we intend to restore its integrity and place it on the VanScoy Towpath Trail over the Wabash & Erie Canal behind Pizza Hut.

Delphi will have a most unusual gem to show off. Now it's rusty, has no floor now and looks unkept--but it's beautiful. Someday it will be as admired as our 1873 Paint Creek bowstring arch "red bridge" in Canal Park Annex completed in October, 1999. People love it!

We need your help. The option came to us late in December. A title to the iron structure was secured from the Pulaski County Commissioners and it was purchased for ten dollars! That is the easy part. Now we have only 90 days this winter to remove it from Big Monon Ditch west of Winamac before clearing and dredging operations begin in the spring.

It's happening too quickly to get a grant for the total job of removal, rehabilitation and placement. So we will initially remove it from the site, truck it to a safe place in Carroll County and plan for its thorough restoration and placement later. Costs for the initial work relate mostly to acquiring services of a crane and trucking contractor and will have to be footed by the Canal Association without a grant.

We could use financial help from anyone willing to donate to "save the Stearns Truss bridge" and keep it from going into the scrap yard. Donations will be devoted to the removal and moving project and may be tax deductible. We are a 501-(c)-(3) non-profit corporation. You can give of your time, money or just smile and enjoy our ever growing Canal and Trails enhancements here in Delphi. Thank you and have a Happy New Year!

Please contact the Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal, Inc., 1030 West Washington Street, Delphi, IN 46923

Trail Openings Planned for 2006 - January 2, 2006

Several major rail-trail and multi-use path openings are anticipated during the year 2006. Although these openings represent a significant few trails which are considered to be centerpieces of the community and are largely funded via hard-won grants, each year there are hundreds of multi-use paths which are constructed within local trail systems, for example, as part of new construction, utility lines, or improvements along road frontage. When communities have master plans in place to dictate trail construction during these improvements, funding can usually be lumped into the larger project cost; and as a result, residents need not wait for grant or tax dollars to build new trails.

Aurora-Lawrenceburg Trail - 4 miles, asphalt
Cardinal Greenway, CR534 south of Muncie to Losantville - 7 miles, asphalt
Miteckwee Trail, Starke County - 2 miles, natural
Nickel Plate Trail, Peru - 4 miles, asphalt
Pigeon Creek Greenway, Fulton Ave. to W.Franklin St. - 1.5 miles, asphalt
Trail Creek Greenway, Michigan City - 0.6 miles, asphalt
Vandalia Trail (National Rd Heritage Trail), Amo to Coatesville - 3 miles, natural - expand usage to MTB and horses
Vandalia Trail (National Rd Heritage Trail), Coatesville to Fillmore - 4 miles, natural - initially for hiking only
Whitewater Canal Trail, Metamora to Twin Locks - 2.6 miles, limestone surfacing

Notable single-use opening:

Wabash River Water Trail - 490 miles (longest free-flowing water trail east of the Mississippi)

Volunteers Clear Way for Midland Trace - January 2, 2006

Volunteers gathered along a section of the Midland Trace, an emerging rail-trail in Hamilton County between Westfield and Noblesville, for a cold day of trail work this past month. The group managed to clear 0.5 mile of trail in under two hours, making history as the first section of the new trail was unofficially opened for use. The trail is planned to eventually provide an east-west complement to the famous Monon Trail, which runs north-south between Carmel and downtown Indianapolis. The Midland Trace could reach 7 miles or more, though no funding or timeline has been established by either Westfield or Noblesville, leaving the job largely to volunteers and incoming developers.

By the end of next year, the Friends of the Midland Trace hope to open another short section and combine with sections built by developers and a local elementary school to make a continuous 3-mile trail. The new cleared section of the Midland Trace begins at Simon Moon Park, off 171st St. just east of downtown Westfield, and eastward to Carey Road.

Questions, comments, new info? Please contact us.