Heritage Trail Construction Under Way

BY JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer

WINONA LAKE - Groundbreaking for the Heritage Trail portion of the Lake City Greenway project began Tuesday morning.

The Heritage Trail is Winona Lake’s section of the Greenway project.

The greenway begins at Winona Avenue, along downtown Canal Street and through wooded trails that will be used by bikers and walkers.

The 1.8-mile, $1,008,823.47 Greenway construction project through Winona Lake will run parallel to the east side of the canal and goes to the bike trail area.

A construction crew from LaPorte Construction, contractor for the project, began clearing brush and trees Tuesday along Roy Street to prepare for the project.

Construction will include a new seawall on the east side of the canal as well as repair of the east side seawall from the footbridge south to the Winona Lake Senior Center.

The project also will include laying new asphalt on the walkway trail area.

LaPorte Construction will lay a sub-based material along the area and Brooks Construction, Fort Wayne, will lay asphalt.

“The citizens of Winona Lake have been very supportive of the project and we are looking forward to beginning work on the Winona Lake portion of the project,” said LaPorte Construction President Tom Blackburn.

Blackburn said the project is planned to be completed by June.

The Winona Lake Greenway Art Commission has arranged for 10 commemorative stone benches and 10 commissioned outdoor sculptures to be placed in featured locations along the Greenway trail.

“We believe the art pieces will enhance the trail and add a dimension that would not otherwise be there,” said Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer and art commission member Retha Hicks.

The commission includes six other members, including Joy Lohse, Brent Wilcoxson, Jennifer Ortega, Nicole Moore, Polly Minear and Nancy Gast.

The project offers an opportunity for those who donate to remember a loved one or provide a long-term gift of an outdoor sculpture. Those who donate can have a name of a loved one engraved on the sculptures. Hicks said the commission will mail out artist proposals this week to Indiana artist organizations who wish to donate sculpture installation pieces.

Winona Lake is requesting gifts of $1,250 for stone bench sponsorship, including a commemorative plate and $5,000 for commissioned artwork from community leaders and residents.

Those who wish to donate towards the project may contact the Winona Lake Art Commission at 574-267-5783.