by Jennifer Tangeman
Members of the community had the chance Thursday to view what a future portion of the Logansport trails system may include.
Landscape architects from the Indianapolis firm Green 3 and local folks from the Eel River Run committee unveiled plans for the new trail at various locations throughout the community.
Eel River Run will be a trail connecting Little Turtle Waterway with River Bluff. The trail will be about 2 1/2 miles long.
Designs for the trail include two new pedestrian bridges and a new park at the north end of Fourth Street.
Getting input from the community was the goal Thursday, Green 3 president Dawn Kroh said.
“It’s important to give the public the opportunity to view the plans because it is a community project,” Kroh said. “It’s important that they understand what’s being proposed and give input, whether they like the plans or not.”
Comments from the crowd of people filing in and out of Arby’s seemed positive Thursday morning. Knowing that the project is almost completely funded helped.
“No local tax money is going to this,” said Mercedes Brugh, chair of the Little Turtle Waterway Corp.
About $1 million of the project is being funded by Transportation Enhancement funding. A local match for the grant is a donation by Milt Cole, who is funding one of the new pedestrian bridges.
“Oh boy, he wants to see a bridge connect River Bluff with Riverside Park,” Brugh said. “The River Bluff was his baby, and he’s just super to work with.”
The bridge connecting River Bluff and Riverside Park might also feature part of a historic Cass County iron bridge. Kroh said the feature would be key to the project.
“The county donated a historic bridge truss that used to serve as a county road and would be a special structure,” she said. “It’s important because that is one of the things they do really well here in Logansport is highlight history. It would be one of the most visible icons of the trail.”
The other pedestrian bridge is at the confluence of the rivers.
An additional $200,000 has been given from federal funding for the project.
“They want to keep these projects going, so they are giving supplemental money to projects that have been in the works for quite some time now,” Brugh said.
Plans for the trail are about halfway complete, and will be submitted after public comment.
“This is the day,” Brugh said about Thursday. “We want to see what people have to say about our plans. Speak now or forever hold your peace, as they say.”
The project also includes a new park at the north end of Fourth Street to honor veterans. Plans include ideas like concrete etched art and a kiosk that would house a computer where visitors can put the name of a service member and see information about their time in the military, including news clippings and photographs. Elizabeth McQuinn is doing the research for this part of the project.
No matter the details of the final product, Kroh said the trail will be an asset to the community.
“Trails are great for a number of reasons,” she said. “Neighbors can meet neighbors while out walking or biking. There are obvious health benefits and it is an economic benefit because of the improvement in land value.”
Kroh said the existing plans will be submitted for review and final plans should be designed this year. Bid letting should begin next spring and construction would hopefully begin that summer.
• Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.
Want to know more?
More information regarding Eel River Run plans can be found at the city park’s Web site www.logansportparks.com.
