GREENFIELD — Pennsy Trails of Hancock County is forging ahead with connecting the trail’s gap between Greenfield and Cumberland this year. The public is invited to the nonprofit’s Feb. 4 board meeting to learn more.
Only a one-mile gap remains to enable Pennsy Trails users in Greenfield to take the trail into Cumberland and on to Indianapolis, with routes leading to the Indianapolis Zoo and the Monon Trail.
That gap — between County Roads 300 and 400 West — runs along an easement owned by the county, which has given Pennsy Trails of Hancock County permission to develop it as part of the Pennsy Trail.
“That’s the good news,” said the nonprofit’s president, Mary Ann Wietbrock.
The organization hit a setback last year when it was passed over for a Next Level Trails grant totaling over $955,000, which would have covered 80 percent of the design and construction cost to develop the gap.
While disappointed, Wietbrock said the local trails group was still able to raise $55,000 from corporate, county and personal donations last year nonetheless.
Wietbrock closed out 2023 by posting a New Year’s Eve newsletter at PennsyTrails.org., outlining plans to connect Hancock County’s portion of the trail sometime this year.
Volunteers are needed to clear a swath of heavy brush and honeysuckle from the section between County Roads 300 and 400 West. Once cleared, the next step will be to lay a 10-foot-wide stone base along the trail. Wietbrock is hopeful the stone base will accommodate both foot and bike traffic, at least until the trail can be paved sometime in the future.
“An asphalt cover over the gravel … can be very costly and can be considered at a later time,” she said.
The cost to clean up the area and move brush off site can also be costly, she said, which is why every monetary donation and volunteer count.
While the funding raised in 2023 will go a long way in opening up the newest one-mile stretch of trail, Wietbrock said more is needed to make connecting the gap a reality.
“We will be organizing resources to determine the cost and contractors to complete this work. We are looking for volunteers and additional donors to help this process,” said Wietbrock, who plans to open the project up for bids which will be due April 1.
She’s also seeking additional grants as well as volunteers to help with newsletter and grant writing, fundraising and onsite project management.
Despite the workload ahead, Wietbrock said she and fellow trail supporters hope to have the Pennsy Trail connected within the coming year.
Trail user and advocate Mary Gibble, president of the Community Foundation of Hancock County, said she’s excited to see what the new year brings for the Pennsy Trail.
“The community foundation entirely supports the continued connection of trails and the hard work that it’s going to take to get that done,” she said.
“We gather a team of people on a quarterly basis to share what organizations and municipalities are doing to strengthen the trail system, and will continue to serve in a role to convene groups that are making all this great progress happen.”
Wietbrock said ongoing enhancements continue to make the Pennsy Trail better than ever before, like the recent addition of signage at County Roads 400, 500 and 600 West which help users track their location along the trail.
Eagle Scout Gavin Welcher of New Palestine also recently added to the trail, building and erecting bat boxes to serve as homes for bats between County Roads 400 and 500 West.
“This is a great addition to this restored wildlife habitat,” said Wietbrock.
The public is invited to learn more about Pennsy Trails of Hancock County’s plans to expand the trail at the nonprofit’s next board meeting, from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 at the Community Foundation of Hancock County’s Thrive Center, at 971 U.S. 40 West in Greenfield.
Those who wish to volunteer or donate can contact Wietbrock at [email protected].
For more information, visit PennsyTrails.org.
