Kosciusko County Parks Board Talks About North Webster Trail

The Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board discussed the North Webster to Syracuse-Wawasee trail during a meeting Thursday. Pictured (L to R) are Board member Rob Bishop, Board member Aggie Sweeney, Board President Troy Turley and Board Vice President Matt Metzger. The Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board talked about the North Webster and Syracuse-Wawasee trail system on Thursday.

Board member Rob Bishop reported after going to the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting with Board President Troy Turley, the board would be unable to secure the funds for the Indiana Department of Transportation grant for the gap between North Webster and Syracuse, and did not make a request to move forward with it.

“We let the commissioners know that this is an important project for us,” said Bishop, “but we didn’t think it was appropriate to ask them to commit $1.2 to $1.4 million dollars when we didn’t have any of it on hand.”

Board member Aggie Sweeney reported Tracy Ford, executive director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails, invited the board to a meeting to talk on the regional trail connectivity. The meeting was to look at what is happening between the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail and the North Webster Trail.

“That whole connectivity, when it’s all done, will be a significant trail,” said Sweeney. “(It) will be a real asset to our community.”

After being discussed during the October meeting, the 3.2-mile section from north of North Webster to Wawasee Middle School is the part of the trail that North Webster will not have control over, as it is outside of town limits.

Sweeney noted construction, according to a preliminary cost estimate, will cost $8.335 million, “which is primarily on INDOT right-of-way.” The INDOT matching grant is an 80/20 grant, meaning INDOT would cover 80% of the cost, and the county would have to cover the remaining 20%.

“I understand from what was said at the meeting that we are not ready at the county level … to move ahead this month for an INDOT matching grant,” said Sweeney. “The opportunity to apply again will come up in another year, if not in the spring.”

Sweeney said when looking at what the county would be paying for the 20%, it would come out to approximately $1.7 million, but are not anticipating construction any earlier than 2033 to 2034.

Amy Roe, Kosciusko County community coordinator, had also attended the connectivity meeting. She noted the North Webster Trails group does not have a 501(c)3, and Zach Dripps with Michiana Area Council of Governments would look into where those funds could go. She said it became more complicated as to who would receive the funds, and where the funds would go since they were not a nonprofit.

“I think we have a lot of planning and research to do, and it’s going to be the same … discussion for Pierceton to Winona Lake,” said Bishop.

“I would like to thank Aggie and Amy for coming to the meeting,” said Ford. “I think it was a great conversation. I think there’s a greater level of understanding between the projects … it reinforced the need for Wawasee South to happen as we will essentially be the anchor of these two projects.”

Ford said all the projects showed those at the meeting how essential each project was to the other, and how important it is to get them accomplished. Even though they are three separate projects, they are all connected to each other and rely on each other to finish the project as a whole.

The board agreed further strategy would have to be discussed when it comes to all trails, and how to best tackle what is needed in which projects. Roe said raising funds will be the hardest part for all the projects, and the county will have to be the “local unit of government.”

Bishop also reported there is a teams call for the Pierceton-Winona Lake Trail, and there are discussions on who will run the Pierceton side of the trail and how to fundraise for the trail. He noted his goal is to figure out how “we are going to get there, and how we’re going to fundraise.” He is hoping to have a better idea of what next steps are before the next meeting.

Other Business

• Ford requested from the board an updated letter of support. She asked for this letter to have an undated tone and language for where Syracuse-Wawasee is now compared to where they were a year ago. Turley agreed, and stated he would work on it.

• Approved a claim in the amount of $1,350 to Kayla Moore for mowing of the Chinworth Bridge area. Even though some board members believed they had already approved all the claims for mowing this year, Steve Foegley with Friends of the Trails let the board know Moore had stated this was a typical year, “and she will come by one more time to chop up some leaves.” Foegley also noted this claim was a good estimate of what would happen in the next year, and “the park looks really well maintained this year.”

• Sweeney reported wanting to work on “planting seeds” for the Chinworth Extension to Atwood trail.

• Board Vice President Matt Metzger asked how they would approach the Tippecanoe River launch site as the river runs through the town. Sweeney and Turley told him to attend a Ride/Walk meeting. Metzger also asked what would be the best approach to going to someone who has some “interesting property along the river” and what the next steps would be. Turley responded until they have all the “known information in their pocket and we’re ready to go.” Sweeney stated it may be good to see if the Department of Natural Resources had any programs which could help in this matter. Bishop recommended Metzger talk to Dripps.

• Turley is hopeful to submit the paperwork for the Community Amenities Program grant in late December and then approach the County Commissioners and Council in January for approval for the Chinworth Bridge Trailhead Park.

• Foegley reported the Friends of the Trails had a work day on Oct. 17, and were able to get cleanup done around the pavilion and the sign. There is a bit of brush that still needs cleaned up, and will be working on getting it done. He also reported for the portable toilet having contracted service May through October, and will have the vendor pull it out for the winter months. He will reach out and receive feedback from other FOT members on when they should have the portable toilet back, how useful it was, and bring the feedback to the board.

• The county trails policy for e-bikes was tabled until the next meeting and refer it to county attorney Ed Ormsby to look over.

The next meeting will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 10.

Kosciusko County Parks Board Talks About North Webster Trail

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