BY JOHN REED LEADER EDITOR
NORTH JUDSON — The state has awarded a grant of $450,000 to help developers of a North Judson to Monterey trail complete 2.77 miles of the project.
The funds will be used to develop 2.77 miles of multi-use trail on railbanked corridor from Main Street in North Judson to County Road 100 West and a smaller portion, 0.55 miles, near Monterey from Pulaski County Road 600 East east-southeast to County Road 640 East. Total length is 3.32 miles. Spokesman Bruce Fingerhut said the trail will be asphalted.

Local volunteers have been working on the project several years, and even built a bridge near North Judson. Officially, the grant will go to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum.
Another trail project also was funded. The Panhandle Pathway was awarded $900,000. This funding will help in the development of l7 miles of multi-use trail on railbanked corridor in Cass and Pulaski counties.
Gov. Mitch Daniels announced the funding last week as part of $19 million in new investment for trails development as a part of his Hoosiers on the Move statewide trails plan.
“By making Indiana a ‘State of Trails’ we not only create new recreational opportunities, but also show the people who can bring businesses here the quality of life that Hoosiers enjoy,” said Daniels.
The one-time distribution will be directed to 28 projects throughout the state by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and will result in 104 miles of new trails being built and the acquisition of land for an expected 26 miles of future trail development. Currently the state system includes about 400 miles of multi-use trails.
Projects were chosen based upon geographic diversity, readiness to build, connectivity to the trails system, and local support. These funds are in addition to the $20 million the state invests annually as part of Daniels’ Hoosiers on the Move trails initiative to connect communities throughout the state. The 10-year plan calls for every Hoosier to be within 15 minutes of a trail.
“The governor’s announcement truly marks an historic day for the future of trails and greenways in Indiana. We could not be more enthused or appreciative of his efforts,” said Matthew T. Klein, board president of the Greenways Foundation. “It really shows that Gov. Daniels embraces the many economic and health benefits of linear parks.”
DNR will manage both the new funding being allocated to local trails projects and the 150 miles of abandoned railroad corridor the state recently acquired for distribution to government entities and local trail groups for potential trail development.