A route to connect the two local greenways has been proposed.
Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission Thursday approved sending a favorable recommendation to Warsaw City Council for a proposed route in downtown Warsaw. The route will connect the Warsaw and Winona Lake greenway bike and pedestrian trails.The commission reviewed and discussed the proposed route, presented by Warsaw Community Development Coordinator Gisele Cox and three greenway committee members.
A greenway committee has been meeting since last May to determine a proposed route to connect Warsaw's Chinworth Bridge Trail and Winona Lake's Heritage Trail.
Last July, Cox presented the commission with proposed plans to connect the two bike trails.
Commissioner Joe Thallemer suggested during the commission's June 5 meeting the greenway committee meet with the commission to again go over the proposed routes.
"I support the proposed route and think it provides a conduit through the community," Thallemer said Thursday.
Cox said she will make a presentation to the city council on the proposed route. Public meetings will be held for residents to voice their concerns and opinions on the proposed route.
The proposed route would connect Chinworth Bridge Trail on the west side of Warsaw to the Heritage Trail in Winona Lake on the east side of Warsaw.
The steering committee's recommendation and proposed route would begin at the "T" intersection of Zimmer Road and Zimmer Lane, crossing the intersection from the existing spur of the completed Chinworth Bridge Trail to the south side of Zimmer Lane, traveling east and turning south onto the west side of Hepler Drive.
The proposed trail would continue south crossing the West Center Street entrance to Zimmer to the south side of West Center Street, continuing east on the south side of West Center Street.
It also would cross over Walnut Creek bridge, continuing on the south side of West Center Street crossing through the intersection and making the transition at the intersection over to the south side of West Market Street.
"Connecting these trail isn't something that would happen anytime soon if approved by the city council, there would have to be engineering work done, and grants pursued," said City Planner Jeremy Skinner.
Commissioners are Thallemer, Skinner, Steve Foster, Dan Robinson, Greg Schroeder, Lt. Kip Shuter, Ann Sweet, George Clemens and Bill Rhoades.
