Kosciusko Lends Support To Nappanee Bike Plan
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Kosciusko County will apparently support plans to complete the final leg of a proposed bike path around the city of Nappanee.
The city and a regional transportation agency, Michiana Area Council of Governments, have proposed a five-mile bike path around the town's outskirts, but want to extend it south along Ind. 19 to help, among other things, Amish residents.
Most of Nappanee is located in Elkhart County, but the southern edge falls in Kosciusko County, which led mayor Larry Thompson and a MACOG official to seek Kosciusko County's support Tuesday.
Kosciusko County's support is needed to avoid the appearance of a barrier on the path's south side, Thompson said.
The path is expected to cost about $620,000 and would be developed with federal grant money through the Indiana Department of Transportation. The local share for most of the project is coming from the city of Nappanee, which chose to use revenues from its cigarette tax fund.
That source, Thompson said, "makes it a bit easier to sell."
Officials told the commissioners they would not be expected to provide any financial support. The local share for the Ind. 19 portion would come from the state, said Sandra Seanor, spokeswoman for MACOG.
Kosciusko County's involvement will entail little more than a signature on a grant application. Commissioner Eddie Creighton said he expects no problems with cooperating and suggested they could expect the county's full support.
The Nappanee path would connect Amish Acres, NorthWood High School and a major park on the city's northeast side.
The half-mile stretch along Ind. 19 would run from Haney Street to County Road 1350N. Cost for that segment is expected to be about $19,000, according to a grant application.
The proposal could help alleviate a unique problem most cities don't encounter - Amish transportation.
Amish bikers and buggies use Ind. 19 extensively, and the bike path would accommodate the bikers. Buggies would not be part of bike paths because the metal wheels would tear up the asphalt paths, Thompson said.
Nappanee's proposal comes just two weeks after plans for a similar path in Warsaw were unveiled. The Warsaw path would stretch from Winona Lake to the City-County Athletic Complex.
Representatives of the Warsaw path, including the city and county planners, attended Tuesday's presentation to show their support. [[In-content Ad]]
Kosciusko County will apparently support plans to complete the final leg of a proposed bike path around the city of Nappanee.
The city and a regional transportation agency, Michiana Area Council of Governments, have proposed a five-mile bike path around the town's outskirts, but want to extend it south along Ind. 19 to help, among other things, Amish residents.
Most of Nappanee is located in Elkhart County, but the southern edge falls in Kosciusko County, which led mayor Larry Thompson and a MACOG official to seek Kosciusko County's support Tuesday.
Kosciusko County's support is needed to avoid the appearance of a barrier on the path's south side, Thompson said.
The path is expected to cost about $620,000 and would be developed with federal grant money through the Indiana Department of Transportation. The local share for most of the project is coming from the city of Nappanee, which chose to use revenues from its cigarette tax fund.
That source, Thompson said, "makes it a bit easier to sell."
Officials told the commissioners they would not be expected to provide any financial support. The local share for the Ind. 19 portion would come from the state, said Sandra Seanor, spokeswoman for MACOG.
Kosciusko County's involvement will entail little more than a signature on a grant application. Commissioner Eddie Creighton said he expects no problems with cooperating and suggested they could expect the county's full support.
The Nappanee path would connect Amish Acres, NorthWood High School and a major park on the city's northeast side.
The half-mile stretch along Ind. 19 would run from Haney Street to County Road 1350N. Cost for that segment is expected to be about $19,000, according to a grant application.
The proposal could help alleviate a unique problem most cities don't encounter - Amish transportation.
Amish bikers and buggies use Ind. 19 extensively, and the bike path would accommodate the bikers. Buggies would not be part of bike paths because the metal wheels would tear up the asphalt paths, Thompson said.
Nappanee's proposal comes just two weeks after plans for a similar path in Warsaw were unveiled. The Warsaw path would stretch from Winona Lake to the City-County Athletic Complex.
Representatives of the Warsaw path, including the city and county planners, attended Tuesday's presentation to show their support. [[In-content Ad]]