(LAGRANGE) - LaGrange County residents were asked to help out, and they did.
The community has successfully completed the $225,000 matching challenge for the Hawpatch Trail, unlocking a total of $450,000 to advance early development of the project.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation received a $750,000 matching grant through Lilly Endowment Inc.'s Giving Indiana Funds For Tomorrow Phase VIII Initiative. Guidelines allowed the Foundation to designate up to 30% of the grant for a community project, and the Hawpatch Trail was selected as that priority. As part of this commitment, the Foundation matched all gifts to the Hawpatch Trail Fund, securing $450,000 for early stage development.
Phases 1 and 2 of the planned 1 mile trail in and around Topeka are expected to cost approximately $11 million, including land acquisition. Around $3.5 million is still needed to complete these initial phases.
Community Foundation Executive Director Octavia Yoder says she's thankful for everyone in the community who supported this effort and believed in the Hawpatch Trail. She says their generosity in bringing this project to life and will create a trail that offers both recreation and safer connections for the community.
The Hawpatch Trail is envisioned as a 17 mile multi-use corridor connecting Wolcottville, Topeka and Millersburg, along the former Wabash Railroad corridor. The full project represents an estimated $18 million investment.
Progress on the trail is underway. Land surveying is finished and land acquisition efforts are moving forward. Next steps include community engagement, trail design and engineering, continued fundraising and preparation for construction.
Gifts to support the project may still be made to the Hawpatch Trail Fund at the LaGrange County Community Foundation.