The Greenways Foundation promotes greenways, blueways and multi-use trails in Indiana.

You pedal, we park

The Pedal & Park season is well underway again this year and we have several new events! For the first time, we have a summer-long series venue: The 2008 Free Family Art Series is eight Saturdays of outdoor cultural events by the river at White River State Park, through September 14. Get there easily via Indy Greenway’s White River Wapahani Trail and park for free!

Look for us also at CarmelFest, a family fun two-day gathering next to the Monon Greenway on July 3 and 4, and the Indiana State Fair in August. For a complete schedule of events or to sign up for email bulletins, visit the Pedal & Park web site.

Major movement on trails

Communities across the state will benefit from the 2008 trails investment.

In a nod to his view of greenways as economic development, Governor Mitch Daniels announced $19 million in new investment for trails as part of his Hoosiers on the Move statewide trails plan. The 10-year plan calls for every Hoosier to be within 15 minutes of a greenway.

“By making Indiana a ‘State of Trails,’ we not only create new recreational opportunities, but also show the people who can bring businesses here the quality of life that Hoosiers enjoy,” said Daniels.

The one-time distribution will be directed to 28 trails projects chosen for their geographic diversity, readiness to build, connectivity and local support, and will result in 104 new miles of greenways and acquisition of 26 miles for future trail development. Communities from Evansville and Metamora to Lafayette and Shipshewana will benefit.

“The governor’s announcement marks an historic day for trails and greenways in Indiana,” said Matthew T. Klein, president of The Greenways Foundation. “It really shows that Governor Daniels embraces the economic and health benefits of linear parks.”

To learn more about this exciting initiative, you may download and read:

• Daniels announces $19 million for new trails investment (press release, PDF, 68 KB)
• 2008 State Trail Grants (text listing, PDF, 68 KB)
• 2008 State Trail Grants (map, PDF, 744 KB)

Indiana trail named NRT

In honor of National Trails Day and the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne yesterday designated 24 trails in 16 states as National Recreational Trails.

One named trail was in Indiana: The Burdette Park/University of Southern Indiana Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Nature Trail is a scenic .6-mile segment of an eventual 2-mile trail. It will form a connection between popular Burdette Park in Vanderburgh County and the University of Southern Indiana.

Read the full list of 24 new NRTs in the NRT Program News.