Work on Albin Pond pathway begins

Monday, March 16, 2009
Area 30 Construction Equipment Operation classes have begun cleaning the preliminary trail for the Albin Pond leg of People Pathways. Friday morning Area 30 Instructor Scott Livesay, Asst. Instructor Jack Mendenhall, Andrew Hoopingarner, Kkoty Draper, Taylor Thomas, Justin Livesay, Jacob Cherry, Ethan Woods, Brice Steinbaker, Bryan Greener, Cody Eisels and Derek Cullison were preparing to clear trees on the path.

Anyone driving past Deer Meadow Primary School will hear the buzz of saws and beeping of backhoes as Area 30 students begin clearing the Albin Pond leg of the People Pathways.

Area 30 students in Scott Livesay's Construction Equipment Operation class began clearing a preliminary path from Deer Meadow Primary School to Albin Pond earlier this week.

Two classes from Area 30 are working on the project. Ten students come in the mornings and eight in the afternoon. Livesay isn't sure how long it will take to clear the path.

Students have been working on the project all week taking down trees and clearing a wide area of any debris. They were at the crest of the hill on Friday knocking down and clearing away trees as they moved forward.

Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray told the Banner Graphic the preliminary clearing has to be finished by April 1. After that date, no trees can be felled.

"Because of the Indiana Brown bat, which is an endangered species, no trees can be cut after April 1. So, if we don't get the trail done, it would be October before we could work again," said Murray.

"Area 30 has been a wonderful asset on this project. They have saved us a lot of money and are doing a good job, we have been very fortunate in having a lot of help from them and many others," she added.

The next step for the city is to put out bids for paving the construction for this leg of the trail. This will probably take place in late June. The deadline to complete this leg then will depend upon the company chosen.

"We'll probably start in the fall and hope to have it done by late spring next year. Of course, a lot of it depends on the weather," said Murray.

This leg of the Pathways is being paid for with an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Transportation Enhancement Award received in Sept. 2001 and a Safe Routes to school Grant given to the city in Nov. 2006.

The rest of the money comes from the city in the form of grants allocated through Economic Development Tax Dollars, grants from the Putnam Community Foundation, in kind donations of land and donations from individuals.

The Albin Pond leg of the trail is important in the development of a "walking school bus" plan that the Greencastle School Corporation, City of Greencastle, Parks and Recreation and People Pathways is developing.

People Pathways is a network of trails creating connectivity and accessibility allowing community members the option of using non-motorized transportation to parks, schools, businesses and industries.

For information about the People Pathways call the City of Greencastle, the Putnam County Economic Development Center, the Putnam County Community Foundation or the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce. Information is also available at www.cityofgreencastle.com, under the main menu for People Pathways.

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