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The Friends of the Trail received a donation from VS Engineering during a Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board meeting Thursday.
“Every year, VS asks their employees for names of 501(c)(3)s to donate to, and I put in the Friends of the Trail,” John Nelson, from VS Engineering, said. “They were awarded a donation … and I would like to present this to Steve (Foegley). This is to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation in care of the Friends of the Trail Fund for $1,000.”
Foegley, with the Friends of the Trails, thanked the board for their continued support and VS Engineering for the donation. He reported there was a good reception for the first meeting that was held at the City-County Athletic Complex on Feb. 27. The group talked about maintenance and improvements, along with projects to work on that would include clearing and cleaning the sidewalks of overgrowth; getting rid of some of the invasive species and finding a way to keep up with the mowing of the grass.
Troy Turley, board president, reported there were over 25 people who attended and thanked Foegley for his enthusiasm with putting this meeting together.
Aggie Sweeney, board vice president, and Turley reported on her attendance at the Ride+Walk meeting last month.
“April 25 is National Trails Day and Trails Clean Up Day,” reported Sweeney. “If any groups throughout the county are interested in organizing projects and would like to have MACOG (Michiana Area Council of Governments) help promote them through their social media, we can let them know.”
Turley reported on the Chinworth Bridge Trailhead and noted they have an official project meeting scheduled for March 27. He also noted that they were going to work on strengthening the cost estimates for projects that are in the works, along with applying for grants.
Robert Bishop, board member, told the board about the five-year master plan that was done in 2023, which leaves them with two years left.
“However, the initial proposal has to be in by November of the year prior,” said Bishop. “We’ve reached out to the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) and they sent us a bunch of materials … I wanted to reach out to the representatives and ask if we need to redo everything.”
Bishop also stated he was going to reach out to MACOG to see what other materials and help they could give. Mike Cusick, board member, stated MACOG would be the best resource when it comes to revisiting the master plan.
Bishop also met with representatives from Fleis & VanderBrink, a civil engineering firm. The representatives wanted to talk to the board about the Pierceton to Winona Lake project, as they have done preliminary work on it.
“We had a good discussion about it. There is still some work that needs to be done and gives us a good halfway proposal … I left with a better understanding of what it would take to get it done,” Bishop said.
Pierceton, according to Bishop, is looking at acquiring more land to use for the trail. Bishop also remarked on the possibility of a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant they could apply for, but they have to find out how exactly to apply for it.
Sweeney noted the Land and Water Conservation Fund usually tends to fund parks, not trails. Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Roe noted while they do tend to go towards parks, she thinks there’s a potential for trails; however, the board and Roe will have to find more information.
Tracey Ford, executive director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails, reported they were able to find funding for the Wawasee South Project Phase I. This phase is 1.1 miles of the 2.2-mile corridor along Ind. 13. She also reported that they were able to partner with the county commissioners to get support from them to apply for a grant with help from Rep. Marlin Stutzman’s office; and were able to get the application in this week.
“Enchanted Hills had approached with the instruction that the county … should consider it as one of the county projects,” stated Roe. “It was submitted for the letter of support to be added to the Community Amenities Program list at the commissioners meeting on Tuesday. It was a yes.”
Roe said Bowen Health is the applicant who is presenting this on behalf of Starri Dream Inc.
The next regular meeting will be at 1 p.m. April 9.
