News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

May 22, 2009

Public comment being accepted on first pedestrian trail project in WTH

TERRE HAUTE — The state’s largest fish and wildlife area near a metropolitan center could one day sit along the western bank of the Wabash River in Vigo County.

Public comments now are being accepted on the proposed West Vigo Levee Trail Project as planned by the Vigo County Parks Department.

Federal funds have been requested through the Recreational Trails Program, and would total $132,000, including local matching funds to develop the first pedestrian trail project in West Terre Haute.

Parks superintendent Keith Ruble presented the project to the West Terre Haute Town Council at its April 20 and May 11 sessions, and about 60 people attended and gave helpful comments at the second meeting. But additional public comment is welcome, and may be sent to the county parks department at 155 Oak St., Terre Haute, 47807.

The full project is known as the Wabashiki State Fish and Wildlife Area. “Wabashiki” is the Miami Indian word for the river.

The initial phase covered by the federal grant will create a 1.8-mile walking trail on the existing West Vigo flood levee that protects West Terre Haute from rising river water. The trailhead begins at the Old Ramsey Tavern, now called Dewey Point, and runs south around the West Vigo Elementary School to the west side of West Terre Haute. To the west and south of the levee is a wetland area that Ruble said is ripe for conservation as a state fish and wildlife area.

Plans for the trail call for benches to overlook the wetlands, and a restroom facility for trail users. A visitor center is another phase of the project, and its plans include an office for the Department of Natural Resources as well as a glassed-in room for classes and observation of the wetlands.

Ruble said another part of the visitor center project is to build a ramp and covering out to a nearby existing platform tower so the public can sit and observe the wetlands. The elevated platform, and another like it along the trail route, are old Duke Energy transformer towers that are no longer in service.

The proposed plans include close to 3,000 acres in the project, but that could be expanded to 6,000 acres if additional landowners participate, Ruble said.

A later phase of the project is construction of a pedestrian and bicycle path along the existing U.S. 40 bridge across the river.

“We feel if we get the visitor center built and the trail along the levee, it will show the state the need to hook up Terre Haute with West Terre Haute,” Ruble said. “Right now, there’s no safe way to walk or bike across the bridge.”

He envisions connecting the new trail system with the existing Fairbanks Park Trail, and that would expand the recreational walking opportunities for area residents on both sides of the river.

So far, about 800 acres for the project have been purchased with funding from the county and the State Heritage Trust. Ruble said that if the state becomes involved through its fish and wildlife department, the area would attract a lot of recreational spending by the public.

Anyone wanting more information on the project can contact the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department at (812) 462-3392.

Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.



FIND OUT MORE

Anyone wanting more information on the project can contact the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department at (812) 462-3392.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Join the Conversation
Helium
Front page
AP Video
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship Snow Strands Italian Towns 79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48 Today in History for Tuesday, February 12th Stocks Fall Sharply As Greek Deal Is Held Up
NDN Video
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson after the Pebble Beach Pro Am-2/12 Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote 2012 Grammys: Rihanna Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space 2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop Peek inside Barbie's closet Absolute Lin-sanity Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News