Outdoor enthusiasts will have another trail to explore soon, thanks to a $4 million state grant.
Randolph County successfully applied for $4,096,800 through Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ program.
The project, called Vision Trail Phase 1, will add 4.3 miles of 10-foot-wide, asphalt shared-use path along the abandoned Penn Central rail corridor from County Road 1000 South to the town of Modoc, crossing through Losantville.
The trail bisects the Cardinal Greenway, an existing 50-mile trail from Richmond to Gaston through Muncie.
Randolph County’s project is supported by land donations from Healthy Communities of Henry County, the town of Losantville, and West Union Volunteer Fire Department.
The total project cost is $5,121,000.
Greensburg, Oldenburg, Yorktown, Lawrence, LaCrosse, Burns Harbor, Porter, Angola, Steuben County, Vigo County, Fort Wayne, Santa Claus and Evansville also won a share of the grants totaling $31.2 million to build 28 miles of new trails. Grants were announced Dec. 20.
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office says the Next Level Trails program is the largest infusion of trails funding in state history.
“Through Next Level Trails and its $180 million in grants, Indiana continues making history,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director, in a news release. “Never before in our state have so many Hoosiers come together with the shared mission of connecting communities. Over the last five years, that shared mission, historic funding, and Gov. Holcomb’s steadfast commitment have created a tangible impact in the form of nearly 100 miles of new trail open in all corners of our state and more soon to come.”
For more information, visit on.IN.gov/nextleveltrails.
A version of this article appeared in the January 3 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.