About 26 miles of former railroad right-of-way in Boone, Clinton and Tippecanoe counties will be added to the Farm Heritage Trail, state officials said Tuesday.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources awarded $700,000 to buy about 299 acres to expand the trail, which includes a section in Thorntown.
The 1.5 mile stretch of the Keewasakee Trail starts at Church Street and follows a Monon Railroad right-of-way to a bridge over Sugar Creek.
In 2006, Friends of Boone County Trails raised nearly $1 million to buy a 12-mile segment for the Farm Heritage Trail, which will eventually connect Lafayette and Indianapolis.
The latest investment in Boone County’s trail system is part of $19 million in grants announced in a press release from Gov. Mitch Daniels.
“The governor’s announcement truly marks an historic day for the future of trails and greenways in Indiana,” Matthew T. Klein, board president of the Greenways Foundation said in a press release. “We could not be more enthused or appreciative of his efforts.”
The DNR is distributing the money to 28 projects, intending to add 104 miles of trails and to buy land for another 26 miles.
Indiana now has about 400 miles of multi-use trails, including sections in Zionsville.
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 a trail.
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.
Local News
Trail wins funds for expansion
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources awarded $700,000 to buy about 299 acres to expand the trail
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VIDEO: Wells fourth-graders go back in time
Fourth-grade students at Granville Wells Elementary School got a firsthand taste of pioneer life Friday during the school's annual Pioneer Day. The event wraps up the fourth-graders' year-long study of Indiana history.
For more of the story, see Saturday's Lebanon Reporter or subscribe to our eEdition.
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County official suffers injury in trail mishap
Boone County Councilman and Zionsville Community High School Government Teacher David Rodgers is recovering from major injuries after an accident Wednesday on the Rail Trail. Rodgers was apparently riding his bike on the trail during his lunch break.
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Commissioners offer to buy former Elks Lodge building
Believing they’ve found an affordable answer to a crushing office space problem, the Boone County Commissioners Monday signed an agreement to buy the former Elks Lodge, 220 W. Washington St., a block from the Boone County Courthouse.
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Right of way for trail donated to Lebanon
Right of way for a walking and biking trail on the south side of urban Lebanon has been donated by the county for the project.
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Burning semi shuts down I-65
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County planner will assist city too
Rachel Cardis, executive director of the Boone County Area Plan Commission, will spend some of her time helping the city of Lebanon with planning issues under an interlocal agreement approved by the Boone County Commissioners Monday.
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Donaldson makes Fourth of July sweet
Lifelong Boone County resident George Donaldson claims he isn’t sweet.
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LCSC seeks funding for school police dept.
The Lebanon Community School Corporation is looking at developing a corporation police/security department after the school board of trustees passed a resolution at last week’s meeting giving the department authority to operate if the corporation is able to obtain funding.
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WeBo makes prestigious list
US News and World Report has ranked Western Boone 28th in the state of Indiana.
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County may charge fees for road utility agreements
Plans by Frontier Communications to expand a cable network through Boone County as part of a multi-state project could lead to a change in the way the county handles such “utility” agreements.
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