News 2006

Indy Parks Greenways hosted an informational meeting on Thursday, November 9th about extending plans for the Eagle Creek Trail northward into Zionsville. Interest in connecting Zionsville's extensive pathway system with the Indy Greenways network has been brewing for some time. While Zionsville has had plans to construct their trail along Eagle Creek down to 96th Street, which marks the county and city line, Indy Greenways' nearest connection had been at Eagle Creek Park. Now a section of greenway along Eagle Creek between 71st and 96th Streets has been added to the plans. Currently the only cross-county Greenways connection existing is on the Monon Trail at 96th Street.

The slow-to-develop Eagle Creek Trail was finally opened to the public last year between 56th and 46th Streets, with the new asphalt path near the south border of Eagle Creek Park becoming the first 1.7 miles developed of the 16 miles planned down to Raymond Street. The latest addition to the plans may employ a section of the shoulder of Lafayette Road from 79th to 71st Street, currently marked as a bike lane, while the remainder will follow Eagle Creek. No timeline was set for development.

Zionsville has a 3.5 mile rail-trail reaching north to county road 875E, where developments in Eagle Township will soon bring it northward to 800E. The agriculturally-themed Farm Heritage Trail will be located on the same corridor and is planned to eventually reach Lafayette, beginning with trail development between Lebanon, Thorntown and Colfax. A mile of crushed stone trail is open in Thorntown, where it is known locally as the Kewasakee Trail, and another mile is scheduled to be paved next year.

Union City Wins Gateway to Ohio Grant - November 17, 2006

The national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has tentatively been awarded an $80,000 grant from Coca-Cola to help fund a rail-trail and state line gateway monument between Indiana and Ohio. The trail project will be located in Union City, in Randolph County. Union City is essentially two cities situated directly on either side of the state line. The approximately 1.5 mile route will connect two parks, Harter Park (Indiana side) and Railroad Park (Ohio side). Union City's two governments are now working on a formal agreement to cooperate on the project. It is not know exactly what the total cost of the trail will be, or the final design of the gateway.

The Union City trail also appears to have potential for connections to nearby cities. To the southeast, an unused rail corridor to Greenville, Ohio is owned by a utility company that may be willing to sell. On the Indiana side, the unused Conrail line, abandoned in 1992, remains intact to the west and northwest all the way to Ridgeville and Redkey. Between Redkey and Hartford City, a section is in the process of being railbanked, or preserved for a future trail. The Ball Brothers Foundation, long supporter of Cardinal Greenways, is also very interested in regional trail development and hosting a interstate gateway which could eventually connect to the Cardinal Greenway.

The Indiana state trails plan, due in its final form by December 1st, has an ultimate goal of a trail within 7.5 miles or 15 minutes of every Hoosier. Steve Morris of the DNR, one of the authors of the plan, writes, "While the Union City trail is not part of the proposed visionary trail system, it was identified as a potential trail connection in the mapping exercise that took place at the trails summit in May."

Trail advocates and planners say their first choice for locating the gateway was actually at the state line some 25 miles south of Union City, between Richmond and New Paris, where it would have been the site of a remarkable junction among three major trail routes: the National Road Heritage Trail, Cardinal Greenway and American Discovery Trail. These routes would then link with a planned trail eastward across Preble County and to the Miami Valley Trail network near Dayton and Xenia, home of perhaps the nations' most thoroughly developed paved trail system of over 250 miles. However, faced with the apparent suddenness of the award, Wayne and Preble County commissioners stated they were "not ready" to make the commitment to the exact location of the gateway or to receive the $80k award.

The Union City interstate trail, still not officially named, has the chance to become Indiana's first interstate trail connection. Another promising interstate trail is the Pennsy Greenway between Munster, Indiana and Lansing, Illinois, which has been paved and opened in Lansing, but only acquired in Munster. Development is scheduled to take place over the next several years on the Indiana side..

Cardinal Greenways Ponders the Gaston-Jonesboro Gap - November 9, 2006

Ever since the Cardinal Greenway was first planned in the early 90's, it was supposed to connect Richmond, Muncie and Marion. The former C&O rail line operated by CSX was offered for sale to the fledgling trail group, one of Indiana's first, and a grant from the Ball Foundation...well, got the ball rolling. However, when it came time to close the deal, CSX had unexpectedly sold 11 miles of the Cardinal Greenway to local farmers, leaving a pesky gap in what should have been an unbroken 60+ miles of trail corridor. Trails were too new to the state, the farmers refused to deal, and so the gap stuck...unless the Grant County Cardinal Greenways group can do something about it now.

There are numerous possible routes to connect the gap, which currently leaves open sections of the trail dead-ending in Jonesboro and Gaston. One possibility being explored by trail advocates is to head due east from Jonesboro to Upland, then south to Matthews and Gaston. Studies show that visitors to long-distance trails enjoy exploring the small towns along the way. Those towns, usually devoid of much local economy, have benefited greatly in other states, sometimes relying solely on the trail to pull in significant outside revenue. "It's a great economic development tool for these places. You're not going to find anything which brings as much bang for the buck," noted Kevin Heber, a member of a statewide working group also looking at the gap to fill as part of the American Discovery Trail (ADT).

The Cardinal Greenway in Jonesboro; the Nickel Plate Trail in Miami County

The ADT in Indiana has been identified as a priority trail corridor by the state government, meaning projects along its route would be more favorable to receiving state and federal funding. Beginning on the east side at Richmond and traveling northwest to Crown Point in Lake County, the final cross-state multi-use ADT would be over 200 miles. Nationally, the ADT is routed from Delaware to Northern California, although it currently follows roadways through much of the Midwest. Using a combination of rail-trails including the Cardinal Greenway and Nickel Plate Trail, the ADT's northern leg through Indiana could eventually become a major attraction. The ADT working group in Indiana is currently working on planning this long-term off-road trail route, as well as rerouting the current ADT to nearby roads until the trails are open.

The public meeting, hosted by Cardinal Greenways of Grant County, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14th at 7PM in Upland, at the Wandering Wheels Retreat House, 277 W. Thoburn Street (on the west side of Main Street, on the south side of the downtown area). For more information contact Nancy Gore at 765-998-7237.

Cultural Trail Seeks Artists - November 3, 2006

The Arts Council of Indianapolis, on behalf of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, is requesting qualifications from Indiana artists who are interested in creating an outdoor site-specific public art project. The Arts Council is the leader of the Trail’s Public Art Team charged with selecting artists and managing a $2 million budget for public art projects that will be incorporated along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

While this Request for Qualifications is an open call to artists living in Indiana, the final pool of qualified artists will include artists from other parts of the world as determined by the Public Art Team’s Curatorial Advisory Committee. The Curatorial Advisory Committee is comprised of local curators of contemporary art, local artists and relevant design professionals. The Public Art Team will work with neighborhood stakeholders to select artists and art projects that reflect the unique characteristics of each of the five downtown Cultural Districts connected by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail while supporting the project leaders’ goals of creating a world-class, 21st century icon and an unprecedented model for multi-modal transportation systems in urban areas.

This is the only open call currently planned for the Trail. To reply to the request for qualifications (RFQ), artists must be 18 years of age or older and provide proof of residency in Indiana.

The 7.5-mile trail will expose users to downtown’s dynamic arts amenities and the city’s rich heritage, providing an inspiring and safe way to travel and exercise throughout Indianapolis and serving as the downtown hub for the central Indiana greenway system. The five downtown cultural districts connected by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail include Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave, The Canal & White River State Park and Wholesale District. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail will also connect with the Monon Trail via Mass Ave at 10th Street, allowing visitors easy access to Broad Ripple Village from downtown. Construction of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will begin in March 2007, with the corridor along Alabama Street. The project will be built in six corridor stages over three years, and is projected to be complete in 2009.

More information about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is available at www.IndyCulturalTrail.org.

Source: Arts Council of Indianapolis

Northeast Indiana Trail Charrette Announced- October 26, 2006

In response to the announcement from DNR and INDOT earlier this year that there will soon be an official statewide trails plan, trail groups in Northeast Indiana are gathering for a one-day charrette on November 17th to exchange ideas and cooperate on regional trail plans. The hosting groups include Aboite New Trails, the Greenway Consortium, city of Fort Wayne, the Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council (NIRCC), the Region III-A Development and Regional Planning Commission, and the National Park Service. The meeting will take place at the World War II Victory Museum in Auburn and is by invitation only. For inquiries, please contact one of the hosting groups directly.

With the 20+ mile Rivergreenway of Fort Wayne as the anchor, several exciting connector projects are in the works for the area, most notably the so-called Upstate Indiana Trail, a concept which would ultimately tie the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway to the north suburbs, Auburn, Steuben County, Angola and Pokagon State Park. See a map on our state trails page or in the draft of the Indiana Trails Plan. The Fort Wayne Rivergreenway and Aboite Township will soon be connected with the Towpath Trail, now under construction.

Volunteers Open Vandalia Trail Bridge - October 10, 2006

One of the most expensive and time-consuming aspects of any rail-trail project is the renovation of bridges for pedestrian and bicycle usage. While the former railroad trestles are often intact and reusable, the structures must first be made safe by installing flooring and railings. There are as many ways to do this as there are types of bridges, but the expense of labor and materials can overwhelm budgets and leave these vital crossings dormant for years -- unless, of course, there are a few generous volunteers around to speed up the process.

In western Hendricks County along the Vandalia Trail, volunteers have put hundreds of hours into trail-izing the former Vandalia Railroad trestle over Crittenden Creek, located halfway between the towns of Amo and Coatesville. The 60-foot long span was decked and railed in about 6 months, with the bulk of the work occurring during weekend sessions and completing on October 1. Greg Midgley, president of the National Road Heritage Trail Inc. and leader of the Hendricks County Vandalia Trail effort, wrote after the bridge was declared finished: "As if on cue, within 5 minutes after completion, hikers started showing up left and right and enjoyed the much easier and more scenic passage across the Crittenden Creek valley now provided." The 3-mile Vandalia Trail, including the converted bridge, is now open (for hiking only) between Amo and Coatesville. See the NRHT website's "Trestle Cam" page for more photos.

The red glow of sunset highlights the completed product. Photo courtesy of Greg Midgley.

Materials and tools for the bridge conversion amounted to around $57 per foot, with the majority of funding being provided by a grant from the Central Indiana Bicycle Foundation and the volunteers themselves.

Another group of enthusiastic volunteers is also involved in cutting a parallel trail for horseback riding along the main path, which will cross the shallow creek the old-fashioned way. Near-term efforts will also focus on making the trail open for bicycling.

Volunteer-led work on the 3-mile rail-trail, including clearing, signage, fencing and other safety features, has been in progress for about 18 months. The mostly grass, dirt and cinder-covered Vandalia Trail is envisioned to connect with Plainfield's paved trail system to the east, as well as Greencastle's trails to the west. Ultimately, it is planned to be a portion of the cross-state National Road Heritage Trail, stretching 150 miles from Terre Haute to Richmond.

On Saturday, October 21 at 1:30 PM, NRHT, Inc will be hosting a dedication and rustic cycling event to celebrate the opening of its first trail bridge converted from a 60-foot long, 30-foot high railroad trestle on the Vandalia Trail across the Crittenden Creek valley.

The dedication will occur at the trestle itself and will be preceded by a hike/bike 1.25 miles along the wooded trail departing from the restored Interurban Depot in Amo at 1:00. You are also invited to explore the entire 3-mile rustic trail to Coatesville. Visit the official NRHT page for more details on the event plus a trail map.

Work sessions are planned for most weekends. Contact Greg Midgley at greg@indianatrails.org or 317-503-1101 to become involved.

Updates on Northwest Indiana Trail Projects - September 25, 2006

The Northwest Indiana region, comprised mainly of Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties, boasts the most miles of rail-trail in the state. The backbone trails of the region are the Erie Lackawanna Trail, Pennsy Greenway (under development), Veterans Memorial Trail (under development), Oak Savannah Trail, Prairie-Duneland Trail, Calumet Trail, and Singing Sands / Lighthouse Trail (under development). Other trails projects largely focus on connecting the backbone trails with each other and to adjacent communities. For the latest updates please visit the C4 and NIRPC websites. Also see our Northwest Indiana trail map overview.

Pennsy Greenway – 10 miles (plus 5 miles in Illinois) - Crown Point, Schererville, Munster
This is the largest single trail project in the region, comprised of 10 miles in Indiana, which is already completed and open on the Illinois side for an additional 5 miles. The land on the Indiana side has now been acquired and will be developed/paved in phases over the next several years.

Veterans Memorial Trail - 9 miles - Crown Point to Hebron
This trail will begin on the southeast side of Crown Point and use the same Pennsy corridor as the Pennsy Greenway. It will follow US231 most of the route. At least 7miles of the route are planned to include a parallel path for horses. Much of the property for the trail has been acquired, and the Lake County Parks Dept. expects to complete this project within the next two to three years.

Erie Lackawanna Extension - 1.5 miles - Crown Point, 93rd Streeet to Summit Street
Although the project is funded and was slated for 2006, construction has been delayed until 2007 because of new INDOT procedures.

Erie Lackawanna Hammond / E-L Highland Gap - <1 mile
Construction to connect these two trails should come at the end of 2008, enabled by flood control funding from INDOT and by the Cabela's store development. This would create a contiguous 16-mile rail-trail from the north end of Hammond to Crown Point.

Iron Horse Heritage Trail Paving - 1.5 miles - Portage, Imagination Glen Park/Prairie-Duneland Trail to Hamstrom Road
This paving was scheduled for 2006 and will probably finish in Spring of 2007. The trail has been open and usable but is rustic and surfaced with dirt and sand. Subsequent phases of Iron Horse Heritage Trail development will pave to Woodland Park and points further west of the downtown area.

Oak Savannah / Prairie Duneland Trail Connection - 1 mile - Hobart
This trail will ultimately connect the Oak Savannah and Prairie-Duneland Trails through downtown Hobart. The former railway as well local streets will be used. Construction is planned for Spring of 2007.

Oak Savannah / Erie Lackawanna Trail Connection - 1.5 miles - Griffith, Lake County
The Lake County Parks Department wants to acquire a large tract along the old C&O tracks and they are waiting to get this property before moving on this connection.

Porter Brickyard Trail (Prairie-Duneland to Calumet Trail) - 3.5 miles - Porter, Chesterton
Most of the route has been settled, but many questions still remain and are largely dependent on railroad cooperation. Since railroads are not subject to local authority, they can be very difficult to work with on trail projects. The Porter Brickyard Trail will be a 3.5 mile long connector trail connecting the Prairie-Duneland Trail in Chesterton to the Calumet Trail along the South Shore Railroad in Porter County. Construction is still undetermined.

Singing Sands / Lighthouse Trail – 8 miles - Michigan City
The complete trail will stretch from the east end of the Calumet Trail to the Michigan state line. Phase 1 will be constructed in 2007 and will be 2.9 miles, from the Calumet Trail to Washington Park.

Trail Creek Greenway - 3.1 miles - Michigan City
The first 0.6 miles of this trail (Phase 1) has just opened - from Hansen Park on E Street, then along the Creek, to the new Passive Park at 8th and Dickson. Future phases are pending.

NIPSCO Greenways - 5.4 miles - Michigan City
The eastern Phase 1 of this trail, length 2.7 miles, will be constructed first and is part of a two phase project. The complete trail is planned to connect the east end of the Trail Creek Greenway to the southeast and southwest areas of the city, eventually making a loop with the lakefront trails. The trail will follow both powerline and railroad corridors. Construction on Phase 1 is estimated for 2008.

Indianapolis MPO Drafts Regional Trail Plan - September 13, 2006

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has undertaken a Regional Pedestrian Plan for Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. The draft of this plan is now online at and on the page are also e-mail addresses for submitting feedback. September 28th is the deadline for public comment.

This epic plan outlines a comprehensive, non-motorized transportation network for the entire region, with the exception of bike lanes and other bike-exclusive solutions. The plan considers everything such a network would need: safe, comfortable routes from/to home, work, recreation, education, and transit, using a broad spectrum of meticulously described trail/pathway designs. It incorporates existing paths and plans, and highlights the best future opportunities for each county, including funding mechanisms. Additional treatment is given to quality factors such as character, vitality, economic development and social justice.

In theory, the plan could serve as a model for any community trail network which wants to emphasize transportation, especially in urbanized areas. Included in the plan are general designs for moving pedestrians through any complex, high-interference area. Another example of a regional trail plan can be found with the NIRPC MPO (Northwest Indiana).

The Storrow-Kinsella authored plan shows cross-sections of urban streetscapes

The new Indy MPO trail plan should be able to adequately serve as a blueprint for the region, allowing each community to reference it while adopting their own plans and working to connect to communities next door. It will largely be up to each area's elected officials to support and incorporate the plan into their jurisdictions. Trail advocates can now work to extend these plans outward to the next ring of counties/cities, and into areas such as Bloomington, New Castle, Anderson, and Lafayette. The statewide master plan under draft will identify at least the major backbone trails.

Other future enhancements to the plan might include a tourist-friendly navigational system, highlighting major corridors for exploration. For example, the Miami Valley Trail network in southwest Ohio (Dayton, Cincinnati, Springfield) assigns signed route numbers to its favorite spoke trails. What this might look like in Indianapolis is shown on our regional overview map.

Greenways Foundation Seeks Executive Director - August 8, 2006

One sure sign of the growing demand for trails is the number of busy not-for profit trail groups that require full or part-time staff to keep running. The Cardinal Greenways, Inc. keeps four staff members to run its highly prolific trail operations in several east-central Indiana counties. Aboite New Trails, Inc. in Fort Wayne recently hired Executive Director Lori Keys, a former staffer for Indy Greenways, and opened an office in Aboite Township to handle their multitude of projects. Several groups are fortunate enough to keep their ED positions on a voluntary basis, such as the Greenways Consortium (Northeast Indiana), Indiana Trails Fund (statewide) and Friends of Boone County Trails. The statewide Hoosier Hikers Council and Indiana Bicycle Coalition also maintain part-time ED's.

The Greenways Foundation, historically positioned as the private, not-for-profit arm of the Indy Greenways division of Indy Parks, is now seeking to join other not-for-profit organizations to answer the recent efforts of the state government in helping to build a statewide trail network. GF President Matt Klein has posted the following job opportunity:

Greenways Foundation Seeks Executive Director Position

The Greenways Foundation's vision is that it will catalyze community-based efforts and provide leadership, expertise, and resources to help build and support the best and most connected greenways system in the country. This world-class Hoosier greenways system will connect scenic, cultural, historic, recreational, and economic sites in Indiana's urban and rural communities and become one of our State's most powerful tools in achieving livable communities, a healthy citizenry, and economic growth.

In support of the Greenways Foundation's mission and vision, we are seeking a qualified candidate to fulfill the responsibilities of an Executive Director for the Greenways Foundation. The expectations of such an individual are listed below. Some expectations may be negotiable. Please distribute this e-mail as you may see fit.

Please direct all responses immediately to:

Matthew T. Klein, President
Greenways Foundation, Inc.
pikegop@sbcglobal.net
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GREENWAYS FOUNDATION, INC.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1.0 – Summary

The Executive Director of the Greenways Foundation, Inc. (“Greenways Foundation”) shall fulfill the daily responsibilities of supporting the statewide vision of the Greenways Foundation—the development, maintenance, and enhancement of an integrated system of greenways throughout Indiana.
2.0 – Responsibilities

2.1 – Administrative (10%)

·Regularly report to and execute the directives of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Greenways Foundation
·Perform all necessary and appropriate recordkeeping and reporting functions

2.2 – Development (50%)

·Develop and implement, in conjunction with and approval of the Board, a comprehensive Fundraising Strategic Plan for the Greenways Foundation which addresses: (1) continuing financial support for the Greenways Foundation; and (2) greenway-specific development initiatives
·In connection with the Fundraising Strategic Plan, solicit contributions from and organize fundraisers with individual, corporate, and foundational supporters of the vision of the Greenways Foundation
·Develop working relationships with federal, state, and local governmental officials (and any related agencies, boards, committees, and commissions) involved in greenways-related activities
·Organize the annual Greenways Foundation Fundraiser

2.3 – Marketing & Promotion (30%)

·Aggressively promote the vision of the Greenways Foundation with governmental officials, neighborhood organizations, and business and trade organizations
·Participate in all relevant and appropriate greenways-related events for the purpose of raising awareness of and support for the Greenways Foundation

2.4 – Miscellaneous (10%)

·Be attentive to political, social, or cultural events or activities impacting the vision of the Greenways Foundation

3.0 – Experience, Skills & Knowledge

·Required - Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate discipline (a Master’s Degree is preferred)
·Preferred - Ten (10) years of practical experience in a greenways-supportive or foundational environment
·Preferred - Working knowledge of grant writing, in particular, federal Transportation Enhancement Grants
·Required - A demonstrated record of achievement in securing grants and/or fundraising
·Preferred - Working knowledge of governmental affairs at the federal, state, and local levels
·Required - Ability to manage multiple projects contemporaneously
·Required - Ability to travel throughout Indiana
·Required - Skilled in negotiation, discretion, and confidentiality

State Visionary Trails Receive Funding - August 7, 2006

Two trail corridors dubbed "state visionary trails" in the state master plan (still under draft) have received Recreational Trail Program (RTP) grants for 2006, a federally funded program administered by the state DNR. The Nickel Plate Trail, a north-south corridor ultimately connecting Kokomo and Rochester, and the Farm Heritage Trail, the northwest-southeast link between Indy and Lafayette, both received $150k grants toward construction of short segments of new trail. The annual RTP grants, despite their limited trail-buying power, are highly sought-after awards and are one of the only programs in Indiana to fund trails, both motorized and non-motorized. Other public grants include Transportation Enhancements - the largest, at up to $ 1million per award and $10 million annually - and the Indiana Heritage Trust Fund, a variable and somewhat less reliable program based on environmental license plate sales.

The Nickel Plate Trail group will fund a 3.3 mile trail segment between Bunker Hill and Miami, while Farm Heritage Trail proponents in Boone County will fund a 1-mile trail on the south side of Thorntown to join with an existing open segment. The Thorntown segment will include an historic bridge, relocated from a stream crossing in western Boone County. The DNR release can be read at the Inside Indiana Business site. A summary of non-motorized, multi-use trail projects awarded follows:

Nickel Plate Trail Phase III
Sponsor: Nickel Plate Trail, Inc.
County: Miami
Award: $150,000
Scope: Acquisition and development of a 10 foot wide, 3.27 mile long rail trail from Bunker Hill south to Miami.

Farm Heritage Trail Phase I
Sponsor: Town of Thorntown
County: Boone
Award: $150,000
Scope: Acquisition and development of a multi-use, 0.75-mile mostly rail trail that will serve as an extension of the Thorntown Keewasakee Trail and a link to the Farm Heritage Trail.

Peanut Trail
Sponsor: Michigan City Park Board, Six on the Lake
County: La Porte
Award: $150,000
Scope: Acquisition and development of a 0.8-mile rail trail that will create a vital link between three parks.

Riverwalk
Sponsor: Tell City Park Board
County: Perry
Award: $100,000
Scope: Extend and develop a one mile long, 8 foot wide trail from Sunset Park in both directions along the Ohio River and within the floodwall.

Southeastway Park Recreational Trail
Sponsor: Indy Parks Department
County: Marion
Award: $100,000
Scope: Develop and renovate 12,000 linear feet of trail 8 feet wide within Southeastway Park.

11 Trail Projects Receive Major Funding - June 26, 2006

This year's Transportation Enhancements awards were announced last week, the largest available grant program to assist in building trails. The annual federal grant program, administered by INDOT, is known to be fiercely competitive, with applicants outnumbering awards last year by almost six to one. On average it takes 3-5 years for an award to result in a completed trail. Governor Daniels has promised to double the amount of funding available to the program, from $10 million to $20 million next year.

Also included in the awards were a bike lane and BikePort project for Indianapolis and several historic bridge renovations for bike and pedestrian usage.

To find out more about the Transportation Enhancements program in Indiana, visit the Indiana Dept. of Transportation (INDOT) TE site.

Salem Multi-use Pathway - Salem - $1,000,000
NIPSCO Trail - Michigan City - $1,000,000
South Bend Riverside Trail - South Bend - $1,000,000
Mishawaka Riverwalk - Mishawaka - $828,258
Karst Farm Greenway - Monroe County - $1,000,000
Wabash Riverwalk Trail - Wabash - $1,000,000
Aboite New Trails - Fort Wayne - $987,172
Rivergreenway extension - Fort Wayne - $985,385
Farm Heritage Trail (acquisition) - Boone & Clinton Co - $987,350
White River Trail - Anderson - $1,000,000
Cardinal-to-Whitewater Gorge Trail (acquisition) - Richmond - $200,000

American Discovery Trail Route Under Study - June 16, 2006

A cross-country, multi-use trail stretching over 6800 miles through 15 states between Delaware and California is the grand vision of the American Discovery Trail (ADT). While the trail is currently open and usable, most of the route through Indiana and other states follows roadways due to the lack of suitable non-motorized, off-road trails. A group of trail enthusiasts is now meeting to plan a new route for the trail through the northern half of Indiana, inspired by upcoming chances to bring the route off roadways and onto current and future trails, as well as to connect more points of interest and population centers. The ADT is the second proposed cross-state trail through Indiana behind the National Road Heritage Trail from Richmond to Terre Haute.

At the ADT group's second meeting in Porter County in June, it was decided that two new routes through northern Indiana would be studied separately. Both routes begin on the east side in Richmond at the state line, where the Cardinal Greenway is planned up to Marion with connections to Sweetser and Converse, with a 14-mile on-road gap between Gaston and Jonesboro. Currently there are no plans to bring this on-road section onto off-road trail. From Converse, the preferred future route would follow the abandoned Penn Central railroad past Maconaquah High School to meet up with the Nickel Plate Trail in Bunker Hill, Miami County. The Nickel Plate Trail has its north endpoint at Rochester, in Fulton County, where the two ADT proposals diverge into northern and southern routes.

Southern Proposal

The southern proposal would be primarily a rail-trail route, picking up the railbanked Erie-JK line between Monterey and North Judson, then following an active railroad into Porter County, eventually meeting with the Veterans Memorial Trail in Hebron, which will lead to Crown Point and the Pennsy Greenway. The Pennsy Greenway project will cross the state line into Illinois, where it is already a paved rail-trail. The advantages of the southern proposal are that it is mostly away from roads, is the most direct route to Chicago, is already largely under development, and could be developed in a relatively short timeframe (less than 10 years).

ADT reroute map - click for larger image

Northern Proposal

The northern proposal would leave Rochester and most likely follow a proposed sidepath along an upgraded US31 to the South Bend area, where it would pick up the local trail system and head west toward Potato Creek State Park along a proposed rail-trail. The trail would then head toward Michigan City using an undetermined route and pick up several trails in development, as well as the open Calumet, Prairie Duneland, Oak Savannah, and Erie Lackawanna trails. The advantages of the southern proposal are that it would include the huge population centers of South Bend and northwest Indiana, would allow the ADT to "touch a Great Lake", and take advantage of several trails already open or being developed near Lake Michigan in Hammond, Gary, Portage, Michigan City and other cities.

Both proposals will be submitted to the national ADT organization for re-routing the current trail. At the same time, an interim, on-road route closely following the long-term off-road routes will be submitted, so that the trail can remain "open" throughout the development process.

Please send your comments and ideas to ADT@indianatrails.org to provide your input on the route or to be involved in the study groups.

$20 Million for Trails Announced at Trail Summit - May 31, 2006

Today at the opening of the statewide Trail Summit, a 1-day conference which brought together over 300 of Indiana's top trail advocates, Governor Daniels announced that the state government will commit at least $10 million of new funding to kickoff the state trails initiative. The new state funding will supplement the approximately $10 million already allotted annually from Transportation Enhancement (TE) and other federal funding for trail projects. While every state now receives and disburses TE funds, such a voluntary supplement by the state has typically come only from renowned pro-trail states such as Wisconsin or Ohio. As a comparison, Ohio supplements TE funding with a $6.25 million annual fund dubbed the Clean Ohio Trails Fund. Indiana TE funding, administered by INDOT, was awarded to only 17% of applicants in 2005. The Recreational Trails grant, a much smaller federal program administered by the DNR, funded 33% of non-motorized trail applicants. Doubling the available pot should amount to a doubling of these rates, although the number of applicants has been increasing steadily each year.

The state trails initiative is currently centered around the creation of a statewide master plan, which the Summit attendees attempted to co-draft. The crux of the plan is the identification of numerous "backbone" or long, arterial trails which connect major population centers and points of interest. The state initiative will ultimately focus on the development of these major trail corridors and their spur connections, with the stated goal of getting all Hoosiers within 7.5 miles of a point on the network. Summit attendees also discussed other challenges to implementing the plan such as funding, development, maintenance, and coordination, issues which will be addressed in the final version of the master plan. The draft of the plan is scheduled to be discussed further at several regional public meetings (listed below), after which it will be finalized in late summer.

The Summit produced a quick and vast volume of ideas, and facilitators asked the groups to prioritize their suggestions, including which trail corridors were most wanted across each region. Many corridors already in progress had been identified in the early draft of the plan (some are shown here) and several concept trails were voted in by attendees.

For those who did not attend the May 31st Summit, follow-up sessions for public contribution to the Indiana Statewide Trails Plan were announced as follows:

All times are 6-8PM
June 15: Clifty Inn, Clifty Falls State Park, Madison, IN
June 20: Kankakee FWA Conference Room, North Judson, IN
June 22: The Garrison, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, IN
June 27: Franke Park, Pavilion 1, Fort Wayne, IN
June 29: Sugar Ridge FWA Conference Room - Winslow, IN

Summit attendees study the east central region in one of several regional breakout sessions

Towpath Trail to Link Fort Wayne Networks - May 25, 2006

New life is being breathed into an historic corridor as plans for the 6.8 mile Towpath Trail take shape along the former Wabash & Erie Canal route. Although the canal in Fort Wayne has been filled in over the years and the parallel towpath erased, a collaboration of trail groups in the area is working to place an important trail link for bicyclists where the canal once served. The canal towpath route was later used in the early 20th century to carry electric interurban trains, a nationwide local and regional transportation option which all but disappeared from the USA by 1940. The Wabash in Erie canal once stretched from Toledo to Evansville and was the nation's longest. Use discontinued in 1874 as inland traffic diverted to railroads.

The route of the trail will begin at Rockhill Park and head southwest to Engle Road and Eagle Marsh. Eventually, the Aboite NewTrails group hopes to construct a bridge or tunnel across US 24 or Jefferson Boulevard. The new trail will provide the connection between the planned 50-mile Aboite Trails system on the west side of Fort Wayne, of which several miles are either open or under construction, and the 26-mile Rivergreenway, which lines the St. Joseph, St. Marys and Maumee Rivers and now connects to the town of New Haven on Fort Wayne's east side. Lori Keys, the Executive Director of the Aboite NewTrails organization, foresees the Towpath Trail as a commuter route and a highly used recreational and alternative transportation corridor. She writes:

Aboite New Trails, Inc. feels that the Towpath Trail, a 7-mile link that will create a 25-mile east-west trail corridor across Allen County, will multiply all of the local efforts in NE Indiana exponentially. In addition to creating a crucial link between Aboite Township, Downtown Fort Wayne, the Rivergreenway, and New Haven, the Towpath will connect trail users to the 676-acre Eagle Marsh, a restored wetlands area that will greatly enhance the trail experience and serve as an outdoor education area. We also look forward to educating trail users about the historic significance of this corridor. Its rich Native American heritage and use as a historic portage by British and French settlers will remind Fort Wayne residents and visitors of Fort Wayne's great cultural history. I am simply amazed at how many greenway benefits are tied into this one corridor!

Much of the interurban corridor still carries power lines

The trail is anticipated to be 10-12' asphalt with some boardwalk sections. The trail groups collaborating on the project are the Greenway Consortium, Aboite New Trails, Little River Wetlands Project, the Canal Society of Indiana, the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County. The task force hopes to begin construction this year and have the trail completed by late 2007.

The Indiana state master plan, currently being drafted, is anticipated to include a trail along the Wabash River between Lafayette and Logansport. Long-term, the larger vision of many trail advocates is to cultivate a cross-country trail along the corridor between Ohio, the Wabash River, and the Mississippi River.

Nickel Plate Trail Gets First Paving - May 18, 2006

The Nickel Plate Trail south of Peru received 3.4 miles of asphalt paving this spring, making use of a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant from DNR. The new trail begins at Riverside Drive, just south of the Wabash River, and leads south to CR500S. Following Little Pipe Creek for much of the way, the trail traverses heavily forested areas along the creek's often steep banks.

Also in the works are another 3 miles of paving to connect the town of Bunker Hill to the south, as well as an extension northward over the Wabash River and connecting with the existing Peru Riverwalk. The Nickel Plate Trail, Inc. received a $1 million Transportation Enhancements grant in 2004 for the project.

The Nickel Plate Trail is built on the former Nickel Plate Railroad, and will eventually stretch over 40 miles between Kokomo, Peru and Rochester. Three segments of the trail are now open for a total of 15 miles. The American Discovery Trail's northern route will use the trail as part of its route between Richmond and Chicago.

Governor Announces State Greenways Plan - April 26, 2006

In an historic day for trails in Indiana, Governor Daniels and DNR Director Kyle Hupfer today publicized an initiative in progress by the state government, including both DNR and INDOT, to craft a comprehensive trails and greenways plan for the entire state. Nearby states such as Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania already have such plans in place and have been prioritizing resources toward major trails in the network, with the goal of eventually building a statewide transportation and recreation system which connects major cities and other points of interest. Trail enthusiasts in Indiana regularly refer to trails in Michigan or Ohio, such as the Kal Haven or Little Miami Scenic Trail, as favorite vacation destinations and lament at the relative lack of such amenities in their own state.

Speaking from beside Plainfield's Vandalia Rail-Trail before a sizable Wednesday morning crowd, Governor Daniels emphasized the health and economic benefits of trails, and noted that there are beautiful but short trails present in many cities he has visited recently. Daniels noted that trail connections in between these places were what was missing, and that "it didn't take too much vision to see the benefits...if these bite size pieces were connected to make trails of 100 or 200 miles." Hupfer began the press conference noting that the trail behind the crowd was a future portion of the cross-state National Road Heritage Trail.

Left to Right: Governor Daniels, DNR Director Kyle Hupfer, INDOT Trails Director Ray Irvin

Daniels announced a May 31st trail summit to define a draft of the comprehensive plan, which would be followed by several dates in statewide locations for further refinements. Hupfer said the goal is to have the plan completed by the end of August.

In response to questions about trail funding, which has been the most significant hurdle for trails in recent years, Daniels pointed out that Major Moves will free up state funding which would normally go into highways. Daniels also alluded to potential revenue from underground utilities and transmission lines which share trail corridors.

Other attendees at the conference included Ray Irvin, hired by INDOT to direct the trail initiative, myriad government officials, trail advocates and representatives from various not-for-profit and grassroots trail groups around the state. "So many of us have been doing trail work like it was a second job", said Kevin Heber, a volunteer director for the Hoosier Rails-to-Trails Council, "it's nice to hear we may finally get some help from the state."

The official press release follows from DNR:

Governor announces plan for state trails system
Indiana to host statewide summit to coordinate planning

Governor Mitch Daniels today announced the state's plan to build a system of trails that will better connect Hoosiers, contribute to the growing ethic of fitness and health, improve quality of life, and for some, provide an alternative means of transportation.

"Right now, we have a unique opportunity in Indiana to use existing corridors, such as abandoned railways, to build a superb trails system. At the same time, we can explore how to use the same system for some of the state's infrastructure needs, such as utilities and telecommunications," said Daniels, who made the announcement at the Vandalia Trail in Plainfield, which eventually will become part of the cross-state National Road Heritage Trail. "This system will play a big factor in economic development, including expanding recreation and tourism, and will offer families and communities more options for health, fitness and socialization."

There are some 3,100 miles of trails in Indiana, and cities, towns, counties and townships across the state are making great strides in providing a wide variety of trails and greenways for Hoosiers, but most of these efforts don't connect with trails that may be in nearby counties or towns.

To get help with honing a state plan, Daniels and Department of Natural Resources Director Kyle Hupfer announced plans for a May 31 Indiana Trails Plan Summit. About 300 trail planners will be invited to participate in the event to better coordinate trails efforts on a statewide basis. This group will assist in the preparation of the statewide trails plan and discuss ways to finance and implement the program.

Following the conference, the plan will be put out for public comment and the DNR will facilitate a series of public meetings to discuss its details.

The plan will look ahead to the next ten years when Indiana is expected to add hundreds of miles of trails which will be used by hikers, bikers, equestrians, joggers, off-road vehicles, snow mobiles and those who simply enjoy a relaxing stroll.

Gov. Daniels issued a directive to DNR to take a leadership role and develop the framework for the trails plan. DNR, the Indiana Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Office of Tourism, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation worked on the initial draft.

Since the first draft was completed, more then 30 leaders representing trail users, local government, regional development organizations, agriculture and business have provided input as a steering committee to refine the plan and organize the May 31 conference.

"The Governor has shown great leadership on health and recreation issues and a statewide trails plan will put Indiana at the forefront of national greenways development," said Hupfer.

Governor's News Conference for Trails Plan Summit - April 24, 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.

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