National Road Heritage Trail initiative marks 10th anniversary

AVON -- The National Road Heritage Trail Inc. has announced that 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the ambitious initiative to create a 150-mile multi-use trail for non-motorized travel across the width of Indiana, roughly following the Historic National Road corridor.

In March 2004, volunteers began traveling across the state presenting to towns, cities, counties, civic groups and others the concept of being connected by the non-motorized transportation corridor.

The positive initial feedback led to a key June 8 meeting, 10 years ago this month, in which the not-for-profit NRHT Inc. and the Indiana National Road Association presented the concept to a cross-section of local and state government representatives as well as volunteer trail developers and enthusiasts at the headquarters of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.

The initiative was inspired by and has been embraced because of the demonstrated benefits available at both the local and regional levels by accommodating and encouraging active transportation and recreation as a part of a balanced community development strategy.

In that first year, endorsements obtained from across the state as well as the award of the $75,000 Quality of Place Initiative grant from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development highlighted the strong potential for and interest in this type of facility.

The following year, additional impetus was provided when Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and a statewide steering committee published the first Indiana State Trails, Greenways and Bikeways Plan, highlighting the cross-state NRHT as one of the six priority Visionary Trail corridors in the proposed state trails network with the objective to bring trails within 15 minutes of every Hoosier.

The general route and connectivity proposed for the cross-state NRHT resulted from an in-depth study of existing local trail projects, alignment of communities that would benefit from being connected, route visibility for both transportation and tourism potential, and a basis for a relevant and consistent theme across the project. This combination of the Historic National Road and former Pennsylvania Railroad and Interurban Railroad communities provided the ideal context and infrastructure.

At that time, there were 15 miles of open trail in five local projects in Terre Haute, Greencastle, Plainfield, Indianapolis and Greenfield.

With the focus on this corridor, there are now 50 miles of open trail in 12 local projects and many more miles under development or recently added to long term comprehensive and master plans. The strong commitment by local communities across the state has made this progress possible.

NRHT Inc. was formed to help research, steer and facilitate that progress. This 501(c)(3) not-for-profit has recommended connecting routes for the master plans in cities and towns, is helping local not-for-profit trail groups apply for grants, manage funds and publicize their efforts, and will soon hold property for local groups as they develop initiatives.

A key tool in planning and promoting this initiative has been the nine-volume NRHT Development Guide published in 2006 from the year-long $100,000 feasibility study funded by the State's Quality of Place Initiative grant along with support and matching grants from Indiana Trails Fund, Greenways Foundation, Efroymson Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Central Indiana Bicycling Association Foundation, the Wabash Valley Community Foundation and private donations. NRHT, Inc. makes this Guide available to local governments and not-for-profit organizations to help with their own more detailed local assessments and planning efforts across the eight counties involved.

More information on the initiative and the projects can be found online at www.nrht.org or www.facebook.org/NRHTInc.