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Home My WebLink About07-19-2007 Riverside Trail officially opens; next phase by fall 2008 o�sou Tx F dx :J b W eFacE � � y� a 1, a2 1865 Office of the Mayor NEWS RELEASE July 19, 2007 1 P.M. Riverside Trail officially opens; next phase by fall 2008 Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876- 1564, or Tom Price, Assistant to the Mayor, 235-5853 or 514-2169 Leading a pack of walkers, runners, roller-skaters and bicyclists, Mayor Stephen J. Luecke and residents today broke through a ribbon to officially open a 1.75-mile section of the Riverside Trail from Angela Boulevard to Oakwood Boulevard. The mayor also announced that construction on the Riverside Trail's second phase will begin early in 2008 with completion of the trail north to Darden Road anticipated in fall 2008. When completed, the trail will run 3.2 miles from Angela to Darden (where St. Joseph County will complete in 2008 a federally aided project to build a multipurpose trail east along Darden to Indiana 933). "The Riverside Trail has uncovered the hidden treasure of the St. Joseph River and helps South Bend lay claim to being one of the most beautiful mid-sized cities in America," Luecke said, speaking from an 800-foot-long river overlook and observation deck across from Keller Park. "Through City Plan, residents expressed a strong desire for the kind of quality of life these trails provide, and my administration is dedicated to making an expanding system of trails like this a reality." Crews finished the last of the paving work and installed rails early this week. The final landscaping work on the trail won't be completed until fall. But walkers,joggers, skaters and bicyclists have been using the trail in droves since it was paved and even since last winter when the compacted aggregate was laid. "Before the trail, once in a while you saw someone out there," said Judith Robert, chair of the Paint the Town ... With Bicycle Lanes Coalition and a resident of Riverside Drive across from the trail. "Since the trail has been paved, it's just exploded with walkers, cyclists. I see families. I see kids. I've just never seen so many people out my front window. It's created a gathering place for neighbors to come out, enjoy nature, enjoy the river and interact more." Riverside Trail, Robert said, "is going to make our neighborhood a more friendly, more vibrant and interactive place." The trail winds its way through the South Bend Common Council's 1"District, where Council member Derek D. Dieter has been an advocate for alternative transportation corridors. "One of my major campaign focuses when I ran initially for council was I wanted to establish rails to trails. This fits perfectly into what I envisioned," Dieter said. "It's great for young and old everyone to enjoy the river and get some exercise in a safe and accommodating atmosphere." The views of the St. Joseph River opened up by the trail construction are another dramatic impact of the Riverside Trail. "I have lived along the river for 20 years at this spot, and was initially concerned about the unsettling aspects of the project. But the people in charge of this did it right, and it is without a doubt now one of the most beautiful and accessible nature areas in northern Indiana," said David Hachen of Riverside Place. "Gayle, my wife, and I have really been enjoying the beauty of the river now that it can be seen from the bank at places." Sophie Wixson, who lives on Academy Place, was out walking the trail this week, pushing 2-year-old Shaun and 6-month-old Shaylee in a stroller. Wixon, who has used the walk since it was first paved, has been preparing to sell her home. "It should add significant value to some of these properties," she said. Design work on Phase II, which will extend the trail north from Oakwood Boulevard to Darden Road, is nearing completion, according to City Engineer Carl Littrell. The project should go out for bid this winter with construction beginning early in 2008. Completion of Phase II is anticipated in fall 2008. Community residents identified trails to encourage walking and bicycling as one of the city's top priorities during the development of City Plan, South Bend's 20-year comprehensive plan. The first phase of the Riverside Trail cost $1.79 million to build a 9,225-foot long and 10-foot wide path built from more than 1,600 tons of asphalt laid over 3,500 tons of compacted aggregate. The trail includes more than 1,000 feet of decorative steel railings, many installed in places where crews reinforced the riverbank to prevent erosion. The trail features five "nodes"where users can fish or take in the view while sitting on benches or strolling along side paths. There are six marked pedestrian crossings featuring decorative light posts and flashing warning lights that will be activated by pedestrians pushing crosswalk buttons. LaPorte Construction has served as the general contractor on the project, which was designed by the Troyer Group in conjunction with city engineering staff. South Bend's Parks and Recreation Department has worked on landscaping and will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the park, which upgrades more than 5 acres of South Bend's nearly 1,300 acres of park land citywide. "The new extended riverwalk from Angela to Oakwood certainly presents a wonderful linkage along the river as we continue to work our way northward to the Darden Road bridge, allowing a lot of city patrons to take advantage of a wonderful trail system that is really beginning to blossom in South Bend," said Phil St. Clair, parks superintendent. "We're thrilled we have the opportunity to provide something that will be beneficial for the overall health and wellness of the community." South Bend's share of the federal gas tax supported 80 percent of the project cost by means of a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. (Officially the grant is through the Federal Highway Administration Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program by means of the "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" or SAFETEA-LU.) The remaining 20 percent is covered by the City of South Bend's general fund. The City of South Bend's commitment to a dedicated walking and bicycle trail along the St. Joseph River began in the 1970s. Completion of the entire Riverside Trail segment will bring the total trail system to more than 11 miles in length. Luecke issued a directive in his 2007 State of the City address to complete a riverwalk system from Logan Street to Darden Road in the first five years of City Plan implementation, calling upon staff to start engineering plans in 2007 for the remaining segments. - 30 - tIN 3.2 Miles of Trail: I Darden Rd. Phase 1 Completed (1.75 m) ............ Phase 2 Proposed (1.5 m) Cleveland Rd. 80190 Toll Rd. t ' Y • Nam • 3 Boland Dr. •� Pinhook Osprey Nest ' oe OOd�\Jd n a�a 3 3 Keller Park m N m Beale St. H D < P Riverside Angela Blvd. Trail