ROSEDALE, Ind. (AP) - The town of Rosedale has seen a vision of a future “Covered Bridge Marathon” for serious runners who someday might pass through the small community.
Of course, the new Covered Bridge Gateway Trail in Rosedale will have to be extended by about 26 miles, but that is part of the master plan established by the Covered Bridge Gateway Trails Association.
Friday afternoon saw a large crowd gather at the trailhead for the new 0.6-mile long trail that follows a former railroad bed on the south side of the small Parke County community.
Secretary of State Connie Lawson cut the ribbon to open the paved trail, known as Rosedale South. It is designed as part of a larger network that will one day connect south to Vigo County’s Heritage Trail network and north to Rockville and Turkey Run State Park. Eventually it would join the B&O Trail network that connects scenic west-central Indiana to the Indianapolis metropolitan area.
Lawson told the trail enthusiasts that what they have built could be a big draw for distance runners who are training for events such as the Boston Marathon.
“I know when I was watching the coverage of the Boston Marathon earlier this week, several of those runners looked for trails like this for their training,” Lawson said. “When highlighting personal stories, they often showed trails like this one that the runners faithfully went to every day. Who knows, maybe one day, you could be hosting your own marathon here. I can see it now, the Covered Bridge Marathon.”
Lawson was serious when she said that trails are boosts to local economies. They are a free resource to citizens and promote healthy lifestyles. And they can attract tourism, and be sites for social functions such as bike races, charity walks and other events.
“Trails provide a meaningful and satisfying outdoor experience for many users. These experienced reaffirm a sense of connection with the natural environment and provide opportunities for Hoosiers to appreciate Indiana’s natural heritage,” Lawson said. “I am excited for the residents of Parke County to have their own hiking and biking trail.”
The past president of the trail association could not attend the official grand opening of the Rosedale South Trail, but Ed Allen sent his message through current president Miriam Blane, who commended her predecessor with bringing in experts to get the trail planned and started.
The project began six years ago in October when the trail association was founded by a few Parke County citizens interested in enhancing tourism, economic development and community health. A 2005 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology student report energized the group and led to a followup project in 2011 by another RHIT student group that focused on the Rosedale South trail. Indiana State University students also provided plans to market the trail. Other community groups added their vision, support and energy, Allen wrote.
David Burns, a Raccoon Lake resident and a member of the Friends of Turkey Run and Shades State Parks, said he was proud to be a founding member of the trail association.
“It really feels good to have this town have this piece of the trail and see how it can grow,” Burns told The Herald-Times (https://bit.ly/1IXcpti ).
He admitted that there were a few times he thought the trail would never happen.
“But the more we talked, the more it sounded possible,” Burns said.
Blane said the trail project will receive widespread attention with the 2015 Bike the Bridges Fall Challenge, set for Oct. 3. It is a 100-mile ride with four scenic Parke County routes.
She also noted that work continues on the trailhead at the renovated Rockville Depot visitor’s center.
More information about the trail project in Parke County and the trail association can be found online at www.BikeTheBridges.org .
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Information from: Tribune-Star, https://www.tribstar.com
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