People Pathways, HPS ideas earn Envision Awards

Sunday, January 25, 2015
Embracing Susan Price (center) of the Putnam County Community Foundation, Joy Marley discusses People Pathways' plans for an $84,000 Envision 2016 grant announced Saturday at the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner. Representing the Heritage Preservation Society, Mike Murphy (right) also discussed his organization's $65,000 Envision Award. (Photo by JARED JERNAGAN)

During the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Saturday night, the Putnam County Community Foundation announced grants totaling $149,000 for a pair of recipients of its Envision 2016: Moving Putnam County Forward effort, the Foundation's latest initiative.

Susan Price, who chairs the Foundation Grants Committee, revealed that the Heritage Preservation Society (HPS) of Putnam County will receive $65,000 for two projects -- $50,000 to restore the

Putnam County Civil War Soldiers Monument in Forest Hill Cemetery, and $15,000 to complete and submit applications for establishing six new historic districts in the county, one each in Russellville, Roachdale, Bainbridge, Fillmore, Cloverdale and Putnamville.

Meanwhile, People Pathways, operating under the Friends of the Park Association of Putnam County, will receive $84,000 to complete Phase One of the Putnam County Nature Trail, extending the multi-use trail to the west beginning at Veterans Memorial Highway and South Jackson Street. Eventually it will extend from Greencastle to the Clay County line.

Located in Greencastle's Forest Hill Cemetery, the Putnam County Civil War Monument, was the third such monument erected in the state. Dedicated just five years after the war, it was the first Civil War monument in Indiana to feature a human figure, and the only Hoosier monument with a seated soldier.

The monument lists the names of all 321 county residents who died in the Civil War. Its restoration could be completed before Putnam County's Indiana Bicentennial celebration on Dec. 11, 2016.

The identification of potential historic districts in Putnam County was first documented in the 1982 Survey of Putnam County Historic Structures. A listing on the National Register of Historic Districts is seen as helpful toward increasing community pride, helping preserve property values and creating the opportunity for additional sources of grant funding for community projects.

With funding from other sources, the Heritage Preservation Society also plans to create and print a walking tour brochure for each new historic district

Mike Murphy, speaking on behalf of the HPS Saturday night, told the audience that after being involved in the monument project for three years,"this is like winning the Super Bowl."

"Hopefully by 2016's end, you'll see this completed," Murphy said of the restoration effort.

"Saving our past for the future is a good thing," he stessed.

"Being a lifelong member of this community, I've seen a lot of things go by the wayside -- the Voncastle (Theater), the old bus terminal, the downtown gymnasium -- great, old structures we're missing. What if we saved them? What if we repurposed them?"

The Civil War Monument restoration, Murphy noted, is a great place to start.

Meanwhile, thanks to past successes of People Pathways and its volunteers, Putnam County is currently home to the longest open section of the planned National Heritage Road Trail. Known as the Vandalia Trail, the 12-mile section stretches from Greencastle east through Fillmore to the Hendricks County line.

People Pathways has acquired funding and support for the project from a variety of local and state sources, including the Bicentennial Nature Trust. Completion of the project will provide important connections between communities as well as promote wellness and create additional recreational opportunities.

People Pathways has joined the effort to create the National Road Heritage Trail, a 150-mile, cross-state, multi-use trail for non-motorized travel extending from Terre Haute on the west to Richmond on the east side of the state. When completed, the trail is expected to facilitate recreational and historical tourism and special events along the corridor and related greenspaces along the Historic National Road.

Speaking on behalf of People Pathways, Joy Marley addressed the dinner audience, thanking the Foundation for helping share the vision of her organization.

She noted that over the past 20 years, People Pathways volunteers have offered "time, talent, energy, materials and sweat equity" in order to make the project a reality. People Pathways "repurposes a segment of the community for a new purpose that keeps us healthy and keeps us connected," she added.

Overall, the Foundation's Envision 2016 effort inspired 13 organizations to submit applications, requesting a total of $1,039,616.

The Community Foundation's Grants Committee read and ranked each grant application. Key factors considered for each proposal included the number of community members directly affected by the proposal, creativity, uniqueness, broad geographic diversity in impact, broad community support, sustainability, lasting impact and the ability to leverage other funding and in-kind gifts.

"We were excited by the diversity of the applications received and hope that many of the proposed projects will continue to move forward," Price said. "Unfortunately, with limited funding, we had some very difficult decisions to make."

The Putnam County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1985 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership, enriching the quality of life and strengthening community in Putnam County.

The Envision 2016 grants were made possible by the unrestricted community grants endowments administered by the Foundation. Lilly Endowment Inc. is currently matching donations to the Community Grants Endowment $1 for $1.

For more information, persons may contact Elaine Peck, executive director, at 653-4978 or epeck@pcfoundation.org.

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