November 2012

Monthly Trail Updates - November 2012

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Vandalia Trail November Update
Date: Sat, 03 Nov 2012
From: Greg Midgley

Hi Vandalia Trail friends!

It's been another busy month of progress on the trail.

1) More Gates Installed Between Coatesville & Fillmore
2) Horse Hitch Rails Updated in Coatesville
3) Coatesville's Bike/Ped Trail Gateway to the West Almost Completed
4) Volunteer Clean-Up Session in Coatesville This Coming Saturday
5) Coatesville Holiday Open House & Volunteer Fire Dept Chili Dinner

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1) More Gates Installed Between Coatesville & Fillmore: Many thanks to People Pathways for coordinating and for the Putnamville Correctional Facility for designing, fabricating, and installing the newest set of trail gates just west of Coatesville and just east of Fillmore. See photos at the link below of the crew of managers from the Putnamville Correctional Facility volunteering their time on October 27 to install these impressive gates to manage trail access.

http://www.nrht.org/vandalia/page.php?p=photos&sp=c-ville.develt.2012

2) Horse Hitch Rails Updated in Coatesville: To provide more convenient locations for horseback riders to tie up their horses while visiting Coatesville, Vandalia Trail volunteers Karen Humphreys, Sharon Capper, & Greg Midgley have moved the hitch rail originally installed in 2009 to grassy areas just east of the picnic tables on the east side of town and just west of Mill Street on the west side of town. See photos at the link above. Horse trailer parking is still located just east of Mill Street. In order to minimize equestrian impact in the center of town, horseback riders are strongly requested to tie their horses to one of these hitch rails while visiting stores, restaurants, or shops in town, or while just taking a stroll around. Out of courtesy to town residents and other visitors, horse traffic through the center of town is requested to stay on the direct route indicated by trail signs following the former railroad corridor.

3) Coatesville's Bike/Ped Trail Gateway to the West Almost Completed: New crushed stone, a storm drainage upgrade, and side barriers have been installed in the first 100 yards west of Mill Street, bringing the bike/ped trail launching point to the west almost to completion. This section is currently blocked off with yellow caution tape until the trail surface preparations are finalized, but a temporary bicycle/pedestrian detour is signed around that short section. No horse detour is available and the horse trail going west will not be re-opened until additional equestrian features are constructed in that immediate area and west of town to widen the horse trail and to provide separation from the bike/ped trail.

4) Volunteer Clean-Up Session in Coatesville This Coming Saturday: The town has made available for the trail a portion of the former railroad corridor through the center of town, between Milton Street & Mill Street. This Saturday, November 10, noon-3 PM, volunteers will clean up trash and other debris from this section to prepare it for mowing and grading by the Hendricks County Parks maintenance crew. Please come join us in this activity to move the trail forward and help beautify the town. Details are also provided at the link below.

http://www.nrht.org/vandalia/page.php?p=events

5) Coatesville Holiday Open House & Volunteer Fire Dept Chili Dinner: Please keep an eye on the page linked above also for details on the holiday open house to be held by several Coatesville businesses in mid November and on the Volunteer Fire Department's annual fundraising chili dinner on December 1st.

Enjoy the new face of the trail as the season changes!

....
Greg Midgley
Vandalia Trail & National Road Heritage Trail, Inc.
www.nrht.org/vandalia
greg@indianatrails.org
cell: 317-503-1101