South Bend completes the newest segment of the IN-MI Trail

The grand opening for the Northside Bike/Ped Trail is scheduled for 10:00 AM Friday, November 2.   Mayors Pete Buttigieg of South Bend and Dave Wood of Mishawaka will join in the event, which will be held at the former intersection of Logan St. and Northside Blvd. Limited parking is available on Northside Blvd with more on 36^th Street between Northside and Pleasant St. The best parking for folks wanting to ride the ceremonial opener should ‘park and ride’ from the Veterans Park lot on Northside Blvd. just below and east of the Twyckenham bridge. (Remember: Twyckenham goes OVER the Blvd. and does not intersect.)

Northside Blvd. has a completely new look, as it is no longer a through street, and is useful only to local residents and those enjoying the bike/ped trail. The historic depression-era stone walls have been neatly restored, and attractive lighting complements the entire trail.

A short ride is scheduled to help celebrate the opening, and the public is invited to bring their bikes and join in.

Bike Michiana Coalition funds Bike/Ped Trails

The St. Joseph County Parks Foundation and the Friends of the Pumpkinvine have each received $1,000 from the BMC to support development of their trails.

The Parks Foundation will use the funds for development of the IN-MI Trail, to help fill in the gap between Niles, Mich. and Roseland, Ind. The Park’s segment of this trail, the LaSalle Trail, has not yet started construction, and the BMC donation will be added to their trust fund earmarked for the trail.

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail meanders between Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana in Elkhart County: they will use the funds to help close gaps in the trail. Currently under construction is a 1.2 mile section near Middlebury.

IN-MI Trail News

Four things are in the works to move this project closer to completion. The bicycle/pedestrian trail will eventually stretch between Niles, Mich. and Mishawaka, Ind.: and maybe beyond.

Most noteworthy, is the new lease agreement between Niles Township and American Electric Power Co. (AEP) that is in the works. AEP owns a high power line that goes from near the current Niles trail, down to the State Line; they will lease part of the property to Niles Township. Harry Thibault, chairman of the Niles Township Parks Board envisions running the trail down part of that property.

Bike/Ped infrastructure upgrades in St. Joseph County, IN

In a recent post, I commented on a new Marshall County Bike/Ped path in Plymouth. Today I am concentrating on St. Joe County. Cyclists look at the huge need for friendlier places for biking and walking, and often get discouraged. But progress is being made.  Listed below are nine improvements in the county that have been recently completed, or are on the drawing board for the near future.

Mishawaka Riverwalk

Some would say the Mishawaka Riverwalk is the most impressive project in the county. It would be hard to make a case against that claim. The path that hugs the St. Joseph River complements the overhaul from a toxic industrial area in city center to an urban area that is as good as any around. It also is a part of the IN-MI Trail. Mainly along the north bank of the river, the trail extends from the Mishawaka City Limits on the west (Logan St.), almost to Cedar St. on the east, a distance of over 1.3 miles.

The year in review – good things cycling in 2010

This is the time of year to reflect on accomplishments for the year just ended. Here is a short summary of Michiana good things cycling.

Bike to Work Week saw miles ridden in The Corporate Challenge increase to 26,154 from 16,179 (an increase of 74%). Also the number of teams increased to 119 from 111 (an increase of 7%) and South Bend closed off a street so the Bike Michiana Coalition could host an organic blueberry pancake breakfast.

Bike Michiana for Hospice saw the number of riders increase to 475 from 273 (an increase of 102%). Increases are expected again in 2011 since several new features will be added, including a 200 mile route.

Niles opens another mile of bike/ped trail

Trail enthusiasts await the ribbon cutting

About two dozen hearty souls braced themselves against a blustery wind to celebrate the extension of the trail at Riverfront Park. Against the backdrop of the St. Joseph River, a cloudless sky, and swirling fall leaves, Autumn Carey, Chairwoman of the City of Niles Parks and Recreation Department  said the trail “has been twenty years in the making”.  The first section of the trail was opened in 1996. She said “it takes a lot of people” to accomplish something like this.

South Bend’s Northside Trail fine tuned at planning meeting

Reviewing detail plans and completing surveys

The proposed multi-use path that will hug the north bank of the St. Joseph River between IUSB and Logan Street was discussed in detail at a planning meeting on October 27. Residents of the River Park neighborhood and trail enthusiasts met with city officials and the planning consultant to discuss four alternatives, three of which were new since the last planning meeting.

As with any project, everyone sees good and bad in each of the alternatives, and opinions were voiced freely. There seemed to be, however, unanimous agreement among the 41 attendees that the trail would be a great asset to the neighborhood. It will link up with the Riverwalk in Mishawaka, and the East Race in South Bend. It is part of the IN-MI River Valley Trail system which will someday extend to Niles, Mich. and beyond.

IN-MI River Valley Trail inches forward

The Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail, is an assemblage of separately built and managed trails. It will someday extend from Mishawaka, IN to Niles, MI and developers continue to make herky-jerky progress toward its completion. Some futurists envision the day when it will run from Elkhart, IN to Berrien Springs, MI, and even all the way to Lake Michigan.

Notable progress has been made recently.

Dead end? Yes, but progress is being made.

A section in Niles has just opened which extends the trail southward from downtown Niles to the Fort/3^rd Sts. intersection. A ribbon cutting will be held October 30^th at 10:00 am at Niles’ River Front Park.

In South Bend, IN, extension of the section known as the Northside Trail is in the planning stage. A public hearing was held a few months ago. Based on public comments, planners have fine tuned the plan and a second public hearing will be held at 6:00 pm on October 27^th at the River Park Branch Library at 2022 Mishawaka Ave. The extension will more-or-less parallel Northside Blvd. from 21^st Street to Logan St. where it will link up with Mishawaka’s Riverwalk.