Plymouth Park Superintendent Mike Hite received the Common Council’s blessing to move forward with an application for the initial round of the Next Level Trails grant program. He has until February 15th to apply through the DNR.
Monday evening Hite told the council the Next Level Trail grants will invest $90 million in state funding to help develop regionally and locally significant trails across Indiana. Announced in December 2018, the Next Level Trails grant program is the largest infusion of state trail funding in Indiana history.
Superintendent Hite said he plans to submit the next phase of the Greenway Trail from where the new pedestrian bridge is going in just to the north of Garro Street, through River Park Square and connect up to the pedestrian bridge that now connects to the South Gateway. He said The Troyer Group has already completed a concept design and cost estimate, which he believes will give the application a bonus because not too many entities have a project design in place.
Hite said this portion of the trail would be lit and connect the historic walking bridge and the canoe launch to the new apartments.
The park will apply for a $200,000 grant which requires a minimum 20 percent project match, which can include monetary contributions, land value, and in-kind donations of materials and labor.
The Plymouth City Council approved a letter of support for the grant application. As for the match, Hite said if successful they will have up to four years to complete the project.
