City News & Updates
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the city of Huntington opened the recently completed Erie Rail Trail Extension in Huntington, which was funded with support by Next Level Trails (NLT).
The 0.74-mile asphalt multi-use Erie Rail Trail was constructed by the city with help from a $784,300 NLT grant. The award was announced by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb in April 2022 as part of the third round of NLT grant funding. Partners for the project include the Huntington Area Recreational Trails Association, Huntington Healing Partners, Huntington University, Huntington County Community Schools, Parkview Huntington Hospital and the Huntington YMCA.
“It’s incredible the connections that are fostered by trails,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “Across the more than 100 miles of trails already open across the state with support of Next Level Trails, we’re witnessing more folks getting outside and making real connections to the people, organizations, and businesses along the trail. With this trail extension in Huntington, I can’t wait to see the new connections that are built.”
The completed project extends the existing Erie Rail Trail with a 10-foot-wide shared-use path along Gragg Street, Stults Road, and County Road 500 North, connecting to Huntington University, Parkview Huntington Hospital, the YMCA, Crestview Middle School, and Heritage of Huntington Senior Living Center. The project connects to the existing eight miles of trail throughout the city of Huntington. The trail is part of the regional priority zone for the Northeast Indiana United Trails Plan.
“Huntington’s collaboration with the Next Level Trails program and our local partners has been critical to getting this next section of trail installed. We deeply appreciate Governor Holcomb’s advocacy for quality-of-life investments in local communities. We also are grateful for our Statehouse members funding these programs in the biennial budget so we can deliver results with Indiana tax dollars.”
As part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Connections initiative, NLT is the largest infusion of trails funding in state history. The $180 million program is administered by the DNR and facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities.
Including the Erie Rail Trail Extension, 35 of the 89 NLT projects are complete, totaling more than 101 miles of trail built since the program’s inception. Several projects are under construction, with many more slated to break ground during the next year.
More information about the NLT can be found at on.IN.gov/NextLevelTrails.