County Parks Board Gears Up For Chinworth Trail Extension Groundbreaking
February 20, 2025 at 5:36 p.m.
Kosciusko County Department of Parks and Recreation Board has ironed out some details about the Chinworth Trail Extension groundbreaking.
At a meeting Thursday, the board heard from John Nelson, project site manager on the Chinworth Trail Extension project. Nelson announced Triad Associates was bought out by VS Engineering. Nelson explained VS Engineering is bigger with more resources and will "knock it out of the park" on the Chinworth Trail.
"It's really exciting and refreshing for me. I think it's a win-win," said Nelson.
Nelson and the board discussed shovels and construction gear for a photo-op, as well as refreshments.
Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe discussed a list of organizations that should be involved in the event. The board also considered whether the trail should be called the Lake City Greenway, the Chinworth Bridge Trail Extension or something else. They decided to continue to refer to it as Chinworth Trail Extension for the time.
The groundbreaking is set for March 20, with more information coming soon.
Board Vice President Aggie Sweeney asked the other board members if anyone would like to help her with Friends of the Trails, an initiative to get volunteers involved in caring for the trail once it's finished. Board member Troy Turley volunteered, and the other members asked to keep them in the loop.
Shown is a map of the Heritage Park trail Etna Town Council President Heath Roberts showed the board. Photo by Madison Hart, InkFreeNewsA resident of the Chinworth area, Steve Foegley, addressed the board, saying, "Not only are you extending (Lake City Greenway) — that eighth of a mile is giving safe access to the trail for hundreds of families who live in the area ... That is something to celebrate."
Foegley also suggested speaking with the new company going into the LSC Communications site about sponsoring the trail extension.
Small communities share trail goals
The board also heard from a few small communities in the county about their own trail projects and ideas.
Etna Green Town Council President Heath Roberts presented a trail and park design to the board for Heritage Park. Etna Green has received two grants that have not yet been used, and the town council has focused on creating an action plan for a park at the last few meetings. Roberts designed a park/trail that would fit within the budget of the first grant.
"I've been donating my time to do a design. I went to the park and started walking it ... I started sketching it ... I do auto CAD at the shop. It can be a bit of a struggle when you start mixing mechanical with this stuff. I'm looking for anyone's help to move forward," said Roberts.
Roe said that at a future stage perhaps the trails could connect the communities.
Leesburg Town Council Vice President Christina Archer spoke to the council about a vision to widen a walk/bike trail on Prairie Street.
"Walking on a brick street is scenic, but it's not safe," Archer said, referencing Leesburg's historic red brick road.
The board said it agrees with the goals of safety and connection, but someone would have to look into if Ind. 15 had a wide enough right-of-way to have a trail running parallel.
Parks Board President Rob Bishop asked if any board member would like to co-lead the Trail Summit, an opportunity to discuss trail connections with various small towns and stakeholders. Board member Matt Metzger volunteered. Bishop asked Archer if she is the person to contact in Leesburg about the Trail Summit, and she said yes.
Winona Lake Town Manager Craig Allebach addressed Roberts and Archer, inviting Etna Green and Leesburg to network and collaborate about trails at Ride Walk meetings.
Winona Lake and Pierceton also had a preliminary meeting about connecting their trails. The meeting included Allebach, Roe, Pierceton Town Council President Glenn Hall, County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty and parks board member Mike Cusick.
At the end of the meeting, Cusick said, "I think this is great. We've been doing this (board) a couple years and we're getting our plan in place. Now, having representatives of different communities (collaborate) is critical to our success long-term because it's going to take individuals from each of these towns doing this work together."
The next Kosciusko County Department of Parks and Recreation Board meeting is 1 p.m. March 20 in the Old Courtroom.
Kosciusko County Department of Parks and Recreation Board has ironed out some details about the Chinworth Trail Extension groundbreaking.
At a meeting Thursday, the board heard from John Nelson, project site manager on the Chinworth Trail Extension project. Nelson announced Triad Associates was bought out by VS Engineering. Nelson explained VS Engineering is bigger with more resources and will "knock it out of the park" on the Chinworth Trail.
"It's really exciting and refreshing for me. I think it's a win-win," said Nelson.
Nelson and the board discussed shovels and construction gear for a photo-op, as well as refreshments.
Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe discussed a list of organizations that should be involved in the event. The board also considered whether the trail should be called the Lake City Greenway, the Chinworth Bridge Trail Extension or something else. They decided to continue to refer to it as Chinworth Trail Extension for the time.
The groundbreaking is set for March 20, with more information coming soon.
Board Vice President Aggie Sweeney asked the other board members if anyone would like to help her with Friends of the Trails, an initiative to get volunteers involved in caring for the trail once it's finished. Board member Troy Turley volunteered, and the other members asked to keep them in the loop.
Shown is a map of the Heritage Park trail Etna Town Council President Heath Roberts showed the board. Photo by Madison Hart, InkFreeNewsA resident of the Chinworth area, Steve Foegley, addressed the board, saying, "Not only are you extending (Lake City Greenway) — that eighth of a mile is giving safe access to the trail for hundreds of families who live in the area ... That is something to celebrate."
Foegley also suggested speaking with the new company going into the LSC Communications site about sponsoring the trail extension.
Small communities share trail goals
The board also heard from a few small communities in the county about their own trail projects and ideas.
Etna Green Town Council President Heath Roberts presented a trail and park design to the board for Heritage Park. Etna Green has received two grants that have not yet been used, and the town council has focused on creating an action plan for a park at the last few meetings. Roberts designed a park/trail that would fit within the budget of the first grant.
"I've been donating my time to do a design. I went to the park and started walking it ... I started sketching it ... I do auto CAD at the shop. It can be a bit of a struggle when you start mixing mechanical with this stuff. I'm looking for anyone's help to move forward," said Roberts.
Roe said that at a future stage perhaps the trails could connect the communities.
Leesburg Town Council Vice President Christina Archer spoke to the council about a vision to widen a walk/bike trail on Prairie Street.
"Walking on a brick street is scenic, but it's not safe," Archer said, referencing Leesburg's historic red brick road.
The board said it agrees with the goals of safety and connection, but someone would have to look into if Ind. 15 had a wide enough right-of-way to have a trail running parallel.
Parks Board President Rob Bishop asked if any board member would like to co-lead the Trail Summit, an opportunity to discuss trail connections with various small towns and stakeholders. Board member Matt Metzger volunteered. Bishop asked Archer if she is the person to contact in Leesburg about the Trail Summit, and she said yes.
Winona Lake Town Manager Craig Allebach addressed Roberts and Archer, inviting Etna Green and Leesburg to network and collaborate about trails at Ride Walk meetings.
Winona Lake and Pierceton also had a preliminary meeting about connecting their trails. The meeting included Allebach, Roe, Pierceton Town Council President Glenn Hall, County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty and parks board member Mike Cusick.
At the end of the meeting, Cusick said, "I think this is great. We've been doing this (board) a couple years and we're getting our plan in place. Now, having representatives of different communities (collaborate) is critical to our success long-term because it's going to take individuals from each of these towns doing this work together."
The next Kosciusko County Department of Parks and Recreation Board meeting is 1 p.m. March 20 in the Old Courtroom.