[IndianaTrails] E.Central IN master plan article

[Kevin Heber]

Of the dozens of articles which have been written in the past two  
weeks about the state trails plan, I thought Seth Slabaugh's piece in  
today's Muncie Star Press was one of the better ones.  It's  
interesting to think back just 5 years ago, when ANY article on trails  
was a rare, monumental occurrence. ~KH


http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060608/NEWS01/606080321/1002
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Trails could 'bring this state together'
Daniels said trails could unite a state too often divided by politics,  
geography, etc.

By SETH SLABAUGH
seths at muncie.gannett.com


INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels told 300 local and regional trail  
officials last week that the state will double funding for trails in  
the year ahead.

Besides improving the state's health and quality of life, which are  
important to economic development, the trails movement in Indiana can  
"bring this state together," the governor told conference-goers at the  
Indiana Trails Plan Summit, a gathering he initiated.

Too often, Hoosiers are divided politically, geographically, socially  
and economically, the governor said. "I implore you to team up  
everywhere possible," he added. "We need more communitarianism in this  
state."

By increasing state funding next year from $10 million to $20 million,  
the governor said he hopes to "demonstrate my enthusiasm for" trail  
expansion.

Kyle Hupfer, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources,  
and Thomas Sharp, commissioner of the Indiana Department of  
Transportation, also spoke in favor of "Hoosiers on the Move." That's  
the name of the state's draft trails, greenways and bikeways plan that  
proposes to provide a trail within 15 minutes, or 7.5 miles, of all  
Indiana residents.

"Trails are a form of transportation," Sharp said.

More than three percent of American workers ride bicycles or walk to  
work. There is strong public support for safely walking to school,  
according to "Hoosiers on the Move." A national poll conducted in 2003  
found that two-thirds of Americans chose public transportation and  
walkable communities -- rather than new roads -- as the best long-term  
solution to traffic congestion.

The state plans to start taking more responsibility for development of  
longer trails throughout Indiana, Hupfer said. Such trails also are  
known as "backbone" trails.

State backbone trails include two in East Central Indiana -- the  
Cardinal Greenway (Indiana's premier, and longest, rail-trail), and  
the National Road Heritage Trail (NRHT).

The 150-mile cross-state NRHT is a proposed continuous system of  
trails built along or near the former Pennsylvania, Vandalia, and  
electric interurban railway corridors from Richmond to Indianapolis to  
Terre Haute, following the Historic National Road and U.S. 40.

"I like the emphasis on the National Road Heritage Trail," said  
Christine Mallette, director of tourism and marketing for Henry  
County. "It's of great importance because of its connection to Ohio,  
Indianapolis, and antique alley."

But she says the proposed Wilbur Wright Trail is equally important to  
Henry County because it would connect New Castle to the Cardinal  
Greenway. "I hope (state) priority also will be given to the Wilbur  
Wright Trail because people have spent years working on it," she said.

Regional trail conservancy?
Funding was the top concern voiced at the summit. Various trail  
officials, including Lenette Freeman of Cardinal Greenway, asked the  
governor to create a dedicated state trail fund. Funding sources  
suggested included taxes on soft drinks, gas-guzzling vehicles and  
cigarettes.

Eight Delaware County officials attended the summit. They included  
Douglas Bakken, executive vice president of the Ball Brothers  
Foundation, which was instrumental in developing the Cardinal Greenway.

In an interview, Bakken said he wished that Daniels had committed $40  
million a year for trail development, enough to make Indiana a  
national leader. East Central Indiana communities need to act  
regionally, he added.

For example, state legislation backed by then-Gov. Evan Bayh in the  
1990s enabled counties to form districts to manage solid waste. The  
East Central Solid Waste District consists of Delaware, Madison and  
Grant counties and is funded by a small tax levy on property. Bakken  
would like to see the creation of a similar, but larger, eight-county  
taxing district for trails.

"Why don't we set up a regional park authority or conservancy district  
like Miami Valley (Ohio) to develop a trail system?" Bakken asked.  
"That's the only way to fund it."

Bakken is anxious to see Cardinal Greenway connect to the trail system  
in Ohio to make Cardinal Greenway a longer, interstate trail.