The Lake City Greenway opens in two weeks and measures are being taken to assure safety on the trails.
The greenway is an eight-mile, multi-use trail for bicycling, walking, jogging, running and rollerblading that will connect Warsaw and Winona Lake.
The Kosciusko County Velo Cycling Club, based in Warsaw, donated a bicycle Wednesday to the Winona Lake Police Department.WLPD officer Paul Heaton will use the bicycle to patrol the Heritage Trail portion of the trail and also use the bicycle during the town's summer activities.
The bicycle is specially equipped for police patrolling and includes a first aid kit and a pack to store parking and ordinance violation tickets. It also has sirens, headlights and caution lights.
Heaton will attend a conference May 7 to 11 at Purdue University, sponsored by the West LaFayette police department, to learn about bicycle safety and how to develop children's bicycle safety classes.
An opening ceremony for Warsaw's Chinworth Bridge Trail will be May 4 at 4 p.m. at the Chinworth Bridge Trailhead, CR 350W and Old Road 30W. Parking for the ceremony will be available at the City-County Athletic Complex.
Winona Lake's Heritage Trail will be dedicated at 5 p.m. on Auditorium Boulevard at Trailhouse.
The Lake City Greenway Steering Committee was formed in 1997 to begin exploring the possibility of a bike trail in Warsaw.
"We have already seen a phenominal amount of activity on the greenway and believe the trails will provide a connectivity between Southtown and Winona Lake," said Winona Lake town coordinator Craig Allebach.
"We also want to make sure there are rules of the road those who use the trail follow."
The Lake City Greenway will connect Warsaw, Winona Lake and Kosciusko County with access to the Village at Winona, Grace College, Winona Lake Park and Beach, the YMCA, Kosciusko County fairgrounds, downtown Warsaw, several Warsaw city parks and the CCAC.
The Beyer Farm Trail, completed in 2003, promotes education and wetlands conservation.
The trail connects Pike Lake park and campground to Provident Drive behind the Kosciusko Community Hospital.
The trail consists of an 8-foot wide asphalt trail and raised wooden boardwalk, through 60 acres of urban wetland. The section of trail is approximately three-fourths of a mile with a trailhead with designated parking, a raised wooden boardwalk and asphalt trail.
The Chinworth Bridge Trail connects the Chinworth Bridge to the CCAC and the city of Warsaw.
Trail markers outline the history of the Chinworth and Groninger bridges. It begins at CR 350W and Old Road 30 and ends at Zimmer Road. It is 1.9 miles long.
The Heritage Trail, Winona Lake's portion of the greenway, begins at the corner of King's Highway and Park Avenue and ends at Roy Street. It is 1.8 miles long.
The trails will be open from dawn until dusk each day.
Winona's Heritage Trail will include 10 benches and commemorative art. There are still five commemorative art pieces available for purchase, according to Winona Lake clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks.
The Heritage Trail will feature artwork that interprets attributes of the heritage of Winona Lake. Attributes include kindness, virtue, generosity, community, gathering, beauty, respect, legacy, peace and love.
Greenway rules signs will be posted at both ends of the Heritage and Chinworth trails.
Allebach said regulatory and mile marker signs will be located along the trail. Stop signs and crosswalk signs also have been implemented.
There also will be receptacles and plastic bags for dog waste along the trail for people who walk their dogs on the greenway.
Allebach said bicyclists, skaters and handicapped scooters are allowed on the trail, but private motorized vehicles are not allowed.
Allebach said Winona Lake and Warsaw police officers will patrol the trails on bicycles.
He said those who use the trail should stay to the right and pass on the left.
Parking for the Heritage Trail is available at the Village of Winona, Winona Lake Park and at the end of Boys City Drive for the Heritage Trail portion of the greenway.
Parking for the Chinworth Trail is available at the Chinworth trailhead bridge.
To donate funds for commemorative artwork contact Hicks at the Winona Lake Town Hall at 574-267-5783.
