Establishing a trail link from the Wabash River to Dewey Point on the eastern edge of West Terre Haute has been put on hold pending future funding.
Working with West Central Indiana Economic Development District, the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department had sought $2 million in state funding for a trail to be constructed on concrete pilings. The trail's maker is called PermaTrak North America.
The $3 million project would have included a local match of $930,000, which would have included $700,000 from the county's Economic Development Income tax plus funding from some organizations, said Parks Superintendent Kara Kish.
"Because the $2 million was not placed into the state budget, at this time, we will not pursue a county match," Kish said.
Pedestrians now can cross over the Wabash River on a state bridge that has a dedicated walking path. Then, a pedestrian or bicyclist, would be on property owned by the city of West Terre Haute, Kish said. However, after that, there is no safe way to get to Dewey Point along National Avenue, formerly U.S. 40.
"As far as the parks, we still have a strong need for a safe and scenic passage to traverse that area. It will complete a closed-looped trail system, providing the connectivity between Terre Haute and West Terre Haute," Kish said.
"There are many benefits to this. In addition to safety and recreation, there is the economic impact of tourism dollars and it will help property values" along the trail in West Terre Haute, Kish said.
Kish said the parks department studied reducing National Avenue down to three lanes to put in a walking trail; putting in an "bench trail" along a sloped area at the road's edge; or installing the piling trail, the most economical of the three, Kish said.
Kish said establishing a trail will most likely have to wait until the state's next biennial budget goes before the state legislature, which will be 2016.
West Central Executive Director Ron Hinsenkamp said the agency will continue to look for funding for the trail.
"We are continually looking for funding sources, not just the state legislature, but with federal funds and private opportunities. We will continue to do that with the parks department, and we hope to work with legislators [for funding] in the next [biennial] budget session," said Hinsenkamp said.
In the meantime, the parks department, Kish said, is moving forward with an extension of the trail around a northern portion of West Terre Haute. Work on Dewey Point will also continue, she said.
A shelter and restroom have been installed at Dewey Point, but it will remain closed to the public until a parking area is paved and the parks department has installed landscaping, Kish said.
The Indiana Department of Transportation opened bids for the paving work on May 7. Wabash Valley Asphalt was the lone bidder. INDOT has yet not awarded a paving contract "as additional time is required for Indiana Department of Administration minority and women's business enterprises division to do a good faith efforts review," said Debbie Calder, INDOT spokeswoman.