It will soon be easier to get around Warrick County on foot or by bicycle.
A little more than 30 miles are planned for Warrick Trails by 2018. The trails will be funded mostly through private donations. But a federal grant of $1.4 million will help aid the $6.8 million project.
"People are going to ride bikes or walk, and people need a place to meet," said Howard Nevins, Warrick Wellness Pathways president. He said trails will help increase the quality of life in the county.
The Warrick County Commissioners approved to "sponsor" an agreement between Warrick Trails and the Indiana Department of Transportation during Monday's commissioners meeting.
Commissioner President Don Williams said he believes INDOT wants the county's OK to enter into an agreement with Warrick Trails and establish bike lanes within the county. The commissioners agreed to sponsor the agreement as long as "no financial liability" falls onto the county.
About 13 miles will be dedicated to shared roadways, which include portions of Indiana 61, Indiana 261, Indiana 66 and Indiana 62, Nevins said. Warrick Trails will prepare signs for the shared roadways and maintain the lines for the bike lanes.
Warrick County will be the first county in Indiana to have shared roadways on state roads, Nevins said.
Nevins created the nonprofit Warrick Wellness Pathways in 2014.
"We needed to help with the obesity in the area," Nevins said.
He said the trails will improve personal health as well as improve the environment.
The trails would also help connect people to places they need to go. About six trailheads are planned in Boonville, near the Alcoa soccer fields, Amax fields, Van Road Park, Friedman Park, and at St. May's Epworth location. Safety features such as lights still haven't been decided on, Nevins said.
Warrick Wellness Trail near St. Mary's Epworth Road had its ribbon cutting in the fall. It joins the existing Rivertown Trail along the Ohio River in Newburgh, as well as the bike lanes on Outer Lincoln Avenue.
Nevins said Warrick Trails hopes to break ground on Earth Day — April 22 — at the Friedman Park trailhead. The trailhead near the Boonville Industrial Park should break ground by the end of May.
Not all the money has been acquired for the trails. People can donate online at warricktrails.org.