05-07-10 Connecting communities: Riverside and Darden trails

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Pg. 2 Parking is available along Riverside Drive, where permitted, as well as: ? At Academy Boulevard ? Across from the trail in Keller and Pinhook parks ? Along Riverside Drive at Northview Drive ? At the DNR boat launch and the Keller Park boat launch Construction team: Selge Construction Co. served as general contractor with other work by Rieth- Riley Construction and design by The Troyer Group. Thanks to: The St. Joseph County chapter of the Izaak Walton League and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for easements to help make the trail possible. South Bend’s Riverwalk consists of several segments: ? East Bank Trail – The 0.46-mile trail extends from Howard Street north to St. Joseph’s High School. When opened in 1988, it was among the first Rails-to-Trails conversions in Indiana. ? East Bank Walkway – Started in Howard Park in 1982 and in conjunction with the development of the East Race Waterway in 1984, this path was built in multiple phases. It features concrete and boardwalk segments, stretching 2.81 miles from St. Louis Boulevard north to Howard Street. ? Northside Trail – The original concrete segment begins at Howard Park, incorporating former WPA construction, and extends southeast to Twyckenham Drive. In 2009, the multipurpose path was extended by 0.58 mile with an asphalt section from Twyckenham Drive to near the intersection th of 20 and Pleasant streets. A grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources funded the extension. The Northside Trail is currently 2.03 miles, but plans are under way for further extension. ? Riverside Trail – The 3.4-mile trail was built in two phases in 2006-07 and 2009. ? West Bank Walkway – The 1.11-mile walkway represents the first stretch of Riverwalk built in the greater South Bend area, beginning in 1975. It now consists of asphalt paths and boardwalk extending south from LaSalle Avenue to Monroe Street, and includes the St. Joseph River footbridge (a former railroad bridge between Howard Park and the downtown area). Also, Indiana University South Bend has built a 0.6-mile Springbrook Trail on the south side of the St. Joseph River to connect the main campus (and South Bend’s Riverwalk) via the IU South Bend footbridge with the River Crossing Campus Apartments. Mayor Luecke and the Common Council have approved $200,000 for planning and design of st Northside Trail from 21 Street to Logan Street, connecting Indiana University South Bend and the South Bend Riverwalk with Mishawaka’s Riverwalk system. Nearly $1.4 million in federal assistance is targeted for this expansion from two separate programs: transportation enhancement, and congestion mitigation and air quality. Completion of this Northside Trail segment, scheduled for construction in 2011, would bring the total length of the Riverwalk in South Bend to nearly 12 miles. The Riverwalk segments represent more than 13 percent of a 90.8-mile bicycle network of multipurpose trails, striped lanes and “Share the Road” routes planned for South Bend. -more-