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2024-2025 Progress and News

 Status Map of Projects Along NRHT

Aug '25 Walmart Spark Good Supports WLCVTA Bike Ride Event
Jly '25 Hancock County Paves Another Mile of Pennsy Trail
Oct '24 Richmond Bike Loop Brings NRHT Across Downtown
 Jly '24 Vandalia Trail Progress in Indianapolis
 Jan '24 20th Anniversary of NRHT, Inc. Initiative

2022-2023
2020-2021
2018-2019
2016-2017
2015 & before

August 2025
Walmart "Spark Good" Supports WLCVTA Bike Ride Event: 

NRHT, Inc. was pleased to receive at the end of July a $500 Spark Good grant from the local Walmart.com Fulfillment Center #7520 in Plainfield.  This grant will help sponsor the 7th annual Airport Loop & Recreational Bike Ride around the Indianapolis International Airport on October 11 for which NRHT, Inc. is a hosting partner.  The event, led by the White Lick Creek and Vandalia Trail Alliance, raises awareness and funds for two key public trail initiatives in the Indy Greenways Full Circle Masterplan to improve the quality of life on the west side of Indianapolis, connected to Plainfield.

The White Lick Creek Greenway will enhance a number of neighborhoods in the Bridgeport and west Indianapolis areas through connections to the US 40 business district and to Plainfield's existing Vandalia Trail.  The Indy Vandalia Trail will enhance many west Indianapolis neighborhoods and business districts through connections with each other and to Plainfield and downtown.

July 2025
Hancock County Paves Another Mile of Pennsy Trail: 

In early July, the Hancock County Highway Department completed paving an additional mile of Pennsy Trail, from CR 400 W to CR 300 W.  Many trail users have reported that his mostly forested section is very scenic.  The not-for-profit organization Pennsy Trails of Hancock County and its many volunteers were instrumental in the land acquisition, clearing, fundraising, and coordinating with the County to accomplish this key extension.  This new section extends the length of the continuous series of National Road Heritage Trail components from downtown Indianapolis to 21 miles.

See also "Paved stretch will make Pennsy Trail go the extra mile" from the Greenfield Daily Reporter for additional information.

October 2024
Richmond Bike Loop Brings NRHT Across Downtown: 

The City of Richmond recently created a well-developed separated bicycle/pedestrian path across its downtown along Main Street from the Whitewater River gorge to 7th Street and north to D Street called the Richmond Bike Loop.  Much of this trail follows the original proposed route for the NRHT across the city, so the NRHT, Inc. board has updated its proposal to include the entire existing Loop.  When combined with the wide sidewalks further west along Main Street to 5th Street, this now gives 1.0 miles of newly designated NRHT in the city.  This route also provides an easy connection to the Whitewater River Gorge Trail and the Cardinal Greenway.  Additional planning will be needed to confirm the eventual route to connect this with Richmond's existing Riverside Heritage Trail to the northeast on the way to the Ohio state line.  That route will also serve the developing cross-country Great American Rail-Trail being promoted by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

July 2024
Vandalia Trail Makes Progress in Indianapolis in Early 2024: 

After several years of collaboration with supporters and local partners on the west side of Indianapolis, the White Lick Creek and Vandalia Trail Alliance is pleased to announce the following exciting accomplishments and progress that have occurred along the proposed Vandalia Trail corridor (dotted line on following map) in the first half of 2024:
  • The Indianapolis Airport Authority entered into an easement with White Lick Creek and Vandalia Trail Alliance for a 1.9-mile long trail easement to route the Vandalia Trail Phase 1 along the north side of North Perimeter Road to Girls School Road.
  • [August update] 2 other small, but key, easements were acquired near Bridgeport Road.
  • Barkocy Surveying of Greenwood donated a thorough, detailed survey description for an oddly shaped .25-mile easement being pursued, allowing submittal of that easement for owner approval.
  • Indianapolis DPW has raised the priority of the Vandalia Trail, having published a Request for Qualifications for firms to design the entire Vandalia Trail across the west side of Indianapolis, with the objective to start the design work this fall.
  • The Vandalia Trail was added to the city's 5-year plan for complete streets and trails.
Vandalia Trail corridor proposed route on west side of Indianapolis

January 2024
20th Anniversary of NRHT, Inc. Initiative: 

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the cross-Indiana NRHT, Inc. initiative.  It began as a study and steering group incorporated on May 12, 2004, operating within the Indiana Trails Fund 501(c)3, to promote expansion of the 15 miles of trails open at that time (history) and later became an independent 501(c)3 focused on this objective.  The team of associated communities and volunteer groups has grown the system to 72 miles of open trails, plus 16 more miles preserved for future development.  The original trails were in Terre Haute, Greencastle-Fillmore (People Pathways), Plainfield, Indianapolis, and Greenfield.  Another key early support in 2004 that funded the important 9-volume NRHT Development Guide came from the State's Quality of Place Initiative (QPI).  The linked map shows the current trail system, having averaged about 3 new miles per year, with the longest continuous segment being 20 miles.

 


 

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