The city of Logansport has been awarded $1 million for the trail connection between the Little Turtle Waterway and River Bluff trails.

After three rejections by the Indiana Department of Transportation in two years, the transportation enhancement grant finally went through. Mayor Mike Fincher said that without perseverance and a team effort, the city might never have obtained the grant.

“Logansport receiving this grant is the work of many dedicated people,” Fincher said. “Without their support and love for this community, this would not have happened. This helps Logansport’s quality of life and promotes good, healthy activities.”

The grant will fund a 2.4-mile section of the Historic Mill Race Trail from the west end of Little Turtle Waterway east to Riverside Park. The project also includes construction of a trailhead at Stonewall Park, along with signage, water fountains and restrooms.

Parks Administrator Janet Fawley said Stonewall would likely be turned into a veterans park. Like much of the Mill Race Trail, the park is still in the design stage.

The timeline for the trail project will extend over a period of three to four years. Construction documents and environmental permits will take 18 to 24 months. The hope is to break ground in 2010, with the trail completed within the year.

In a news release, Fincher listed many of those involved in securing the grant.

Asked for funds for engineering and architectural work, the Logansport City Council appropriated $36,000. In addition to that, the Cass County Board of Commissioners agreed to donate the land at Fourth and High streets.

All INDOT enhancement projects require a 20-percent local match to demonstrate a strong commitment to the project. The local match came from Cole Hardwood owner Milt Cole, who agreed to build a bridge from the River Bluff Trail to Riverside Park.

“This significant contribution was a very important element toward securing this funding,” Fincher said.

Fincher also complimented the hospital for helping the city in reaching its goal for trail development.

“In addition, the Memorial Hospital Foundation and their commitment to healthy lifestyles and trails has made the River Bluff Trail a success,” Fincher said. “This trail has helped to demonstrate to our community how important trails are to our community’s overall health as well as its economic vitality.”

Mercedes Brugh and the Little Turtle Waterway Corporation provided a model for the community to follow, Fincher said.

Brugh and the Historic Mill Race Trail Committee worked with Green 3 Consultant Dawn Kroh.

“After our third rejection, Mrs. Kroh provided her services free of charge to help us refine our work even more for the fourth, and successful, application,” Fincher said.

Once finished, the Historic Mill Race Trail will more than double the amount of trails in Logansport from the current 1.79 miles to a total of more than 4 miles.

Earlier this year, the city received a $150,000 grant for a 1.1-mile extension of the Little Turtle Waterway trail to the east, toward 18th Street. That would bring the total to 5.29 miles. But officials are not stopping there.

The city would eventually like to build trails connecting Little Turtle Waterway to the Berry Patch at the high school and then extend that trail to Spencer and Riverside parks, thus connecting all of the trails in a circuit, Fawley said.

The grant came from funding set aside each year by the Federal Highway Administration for the development and construction of projects enhancing the existing transportation system in local communities.

The grant is also part of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ Hoosiers on the Move trails initiative. Multi-use trails are gaining popularity in many Indiana communities, and the state’s 10-year goal is to have a trail within 15 minutes of every Hoosier.

By KEVIN LILLY

Pharos-Tribune staff writer

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com