Nickel Plate Trail - Connecting Our Past With Our Future!

December 9, 2009

Square D presenting $4,000. check to Mike Kuepper for Nickel Plate Trail Maintenance.

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CPC Race Results

March 24, 2009

Greenways Foundation has awarded Nickel Plate Trail volunteer Harry Denham it's prestigous "Volunteer of the Year" at an award ceremony held in Indianapolis.

"The NPT might still be a vision were it not for the tireless efforts of a few individuals, most notably Harry Denham. As a volunteer on NPT last year with Harry and a user of that beautiful trail, I cannot thank him enough for what he has achieved in such a short time. Well done!" --Ed Allen, Greenways Foundation

"Our 2009 Indiana Trails Volunteer of the Year is Harry Denham. He is a living legend and a true trailblazer who is blessed with the unique skill set, desire, and tenacity to physically build this special linear park that so many in North Central Indiana have dreamed about." Anita Knowles, Greenways Foundation Board Member

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Stimulus Bill to Infuse $10 Million Into Indiana Trails

The 2009 Federal stimulus package promises to effectively double the average allotment of federal transportation funds designated for trail projects in Indiana this year. Indiana's total share of funding for transportation is set at approximately $657 million, three percent of which the bill calls to be used toward Transporation Enhancement (TE) projects. Generally about half of TE projects are trail oriented, which will result in approximately $10 million of the stimulus going toward trails.

Indiana also receives federal funds annually from the transportation bill, a package drawn up by Congress and renewed every 6 years. TE funds from this bill have held steady at 10% of the total allotment, or about $10 million annually in recent years toward trail projects in Indiana.

The exact projects toward which the stimulus funding is directed are not yet known, although they will be decided at the state level, most likely by INDOT. All projects are assumed to be ready for immediate construction, which for trails implies that all land acquisition and design details have been completed.