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ETNA GREEN – The installation of a new walking path at Heritage Park in Etna Green is officially in the works.
Brooks Construction Company is handling the paving work for the path. On Sept. 29, workers with Brooks began digging the path, and paving is expected to be complete by mid-October.
Etna Green's walking trail project has been in the works since 2019 but was put on hold following changes to the council's makeup and additional grant processes being unsuccessful.
Now, the project has been made possible through several grants, including a $200,000 pledge from the K21 Health Foundation and a $17,500 grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
Heritage Park's walking path, which is ADA-accessible, loops around the majority of the park, with connectivity to the park's pavilion. The path is also along the south side of West High Street.
Council President Heath Roberts said the walking path project at Heritage Park will be in three phases, with phase one being the path's creation and paving work. Phases two and three will include the installation of park benches, landscaping, lamp posts, trash cans, signage and exercise equipment. The third phase is being made possible through monies from the Community Amenities Program.
The path also will feature pet waste stations and bollards to prevent motorized vehicles from being used on the path.
Roberts said he wants to also get community input from residents on where benches should be placed along the walking path.
"It's a work in progress, but the walking path itself is just huge," said Roberts. "Bring your bicycles over, if you want to skateboard or rollerblade ... we also have a lot of older people that walk here in town during certain times of the day, and they're also going to utilize this."
