HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-31-2012 Northside Trail Opens, Scenic Path Links Downtowns of South Bend and Mishawaka SOU TR 8F
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CITY OF SOUTH BEND
PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31,2012
Contact: Debra Johnson, Director of Communications
Phone: 574-235-5853
NORTHSIDE TRAIL OPENS, SCENIC PATH
LINKS DOWNTOWNS OF SOUTH BEND AND MISHAWAKA
SOUTH BEND—South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood
will host a press conference to announce the completion of the Northside Trail. The
Northside Trail now stretches 3.0 miles from downtown at Howard Park to the eastern
city limits at Logan Street, where it links directly to the Mishawaka Riverwalk.
The press conference will take place Friday,November 2 at 10:00 a.m. The conference
will be held on the Northside Trail on the west side of Logan Street.
The final phase of the Northside Trail, running 1.2 miles from about 20th Street at Indiana
University South Bend to Logan Street, was constructed in April-October 2012 at a cost
of$1.6 million. Eighty percent of the project's cost was covered by Federal
transportation grants,with a 20 percent match by the City of South Bend covering the
balance. The project was managed by the City's Department of Public Works. Lawson-
Fisher Associates provided engineering services, and Walsh&Kelly, hie., served as the
construction general contractor.
The newly completed section of the Northside Trail is an eight- to ten-foot wide concrete
path that offers stunning views of the St. Joseph River and its bridges. Between 26th and
27th Streets, the trail passes through historic stone walls, constructed by the Works
Progress Administration in the mid-1930s and restored as part of this project. Portions of
the Northside Boulevard pavement were removed to realign the street and add green
spaces near 26th Street and Logan Street. The project also incorporates new trees,
lighting, curbing, and storm sewer improvements.
While enhancing local recreational opportunities, the trail continues the City of South
Bend's embrace of the St. Joseph River. A series of bicycle-pedestrian multiuse trails
now parallels the entire 8.6-mile course of the river within city limits. Construction of
this portion of the Northside Trail closes a gap in a collection of riverfront paths running
from Mishawaka's Merrifield Park to Niles, Michigan.
1400 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING•227 W.JEFFERSON BOULEVARD•SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601
PHONE 574/235-9261• FAx 574/235-9892
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CITY OF SOUTH BEND
PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
In addition to extending South Bend's riverwalk trail system, this new section of the
Northside Trail expands to a total of 62.3 miles the South Bend Bikeway, a bicycle
network consisting of multipurpose trails, striped lanes, and other designated routes.
Reflecting the City's continued commitment toward making bicycle improvements in the
areas of engineering, encouragement, evaluation and planning, education, and
enforcement, the League of American Bicyclists recently renewed the City of South
Bend's designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community, originally received in 2010,
through 2016.
1400 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING•227 W.JEFFERSON BOULEVARD•SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601
PHONE 574/235-9261• FAx 574/235-9892