Published: May 20, 2008 11:40 am            

City to receive $900K to build Pathway

State investing $19M in trails

TERRE HAUTE — As part of a $19 million investment by the state of Indiana, Terre Haute is receiving $900,000 to build a segment of the National Road Heritage Trail Greenway System, with construction to begin in October.

The investment, part of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ Hoosiers on the Move statewide trails plan, will create the Historic Collett Park Pathway in Terre Haute, a 1.6-mile segment of the Greenway System.

Pat Martin, chief planner for the City of Terre Haute Department of Engineering, said the development of the Collett Park Pathway will link Terre Haute’s trail and greenway system directly with Indiana State University, Union Hospital, McMillan Adult Day Care Center, two Terre Haute Housing Authority public housing units, Memorial Park, Hamilton Center, Ouabache Elementary School, Lakeview Wetland Area and the Collett Park area.

The trail will be located entirely within existing public right of way, Martin said, and will be a combination of sidewalk trails, asphalt trails and striped bike lanes. The minimum trail width will be 81⁄2 to 10 feet.

“The grant is a significant opportunity for the City of Terre Haute,” Martin said during an interview Tuesday. “It allows us to further complete the trail and greenways system with the National Heritage Trail as the backbone … ”

Funded in 1996, construction of the first phase of the National Heritage Trail was completed in 2002. Two years later, the second phase, running through the ISU campus, was completed. Since then, successive elements, including the Hulman Street project and the Hulman Street trail have been completed, Martin said.

More trail connections are planned through 2017, resulting in improved safety, connectivity and mobility, Martin added.

“Giving people an alternative to actually driving their cars, in this time of high gas prices, it becomes a much more feasible and much more attractive alternative,” Martin said.

The one-time distribution of funds from the state will be directed to 28 projects throughout the state by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and will result in 104 miles of new trails being built and the acquisition of land for an expected 26 miles of future trail development. Currently the state system includes about 400 miles of multi-use trails.

Projects were chosen based upon geographic diversity, readiness to build, connectivity to the trails system, and local support. These funds are in addition to the $20 million the state invests annually as part of Daniels’ Hoosiers on the Move trails initiative to connect communities throughout the state. The 10-year plan calls for every Hoosier to be within 15 minutes of trail.

“By making Indiana a ‘State of Trails’, we not only create new recreational opportunities, but also show the people who can bring businesses here the quality of life that Hoosiers enjoy,” Daniels stated in a news release.

DNR will manage both the new funding being allocated to local trails projects and the 150 miles of abandoned railroad corridor the state recently acquired for distribution to government entities and local trail groups for potential trail development, according to the release.

Deb Kelly can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or deb.kelly@tribstar.com.

        

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