WPOA Hears Trail Update, Gets Glimpse Of Lecture
The number of Wawasee Property Owners Association Board Members was higher than the public attending at the annual public WPOA board meeting this morning, Saturday, June 13, at Oakwood Resort, Syracuse.
The actual board meeting was kept brief to hear from Megan McClellan, executive director of Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Committee, and Ann Vanderford Garceau, who will be presenting a lecture in July.
McClellan provided an update on completed and immediate future trail projects. The trail from Harkless Drive to SR 13 was recently completed, according to McClellan, and work will soon begin on trail heads. This will include installation of bike racks and benches. Two local Boy Scouts working on their Eagle Scout projects will be building kiosks for those locations.
The next project, according to McClellan, is being called “The Conklin Bay Boardwalk and Trail.” This trail will go from Harkless Drive, along SR 13, onto Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation Property. The trail will cut off into the wetlands on a boardwalk, before returning back parallel to SR 13 and along the remaining WACF property.
McClellan stated the boardwalk will be wide enough for two bicycles to pass and include environmental signage. A possible overlook is being investigated, which WPOA is helping to support financially.
The trail is meant to be an alternative means for safe transportation around the SR 13 curve by pedestrians/bicyclists.
This project is presently n the planing and design stage. “This is a huge project and we want to make sure it is done properly,” McClellan stated, adding there is a lot of permitting required. Surveys, studies and design are needed for the permits, which will be handled by EarthSource Inc., an engineering firm.
With two-thirds of the design funded, additional funding is being sought to complete the design. “Assuming we can find the funding and get this process done, they (EarthSource) will give us a project ready to bid.” It is hoped to bid the project this winter, with construction to begin next spring. Funding for construction is available.
The trail, according to McClellan, is being used by all ages and abilities for a lot of different things.
McClellan provided information on a few events coming up and encouraged individuals to visit the website to learn more or email her [email protected] for answers to questions.
“Having her as an executive director has really made a lot more progress available with the trails,” said Kay Young, WPOA board president. “I think you will see great progress … so we’re starting to inch our way around Wawasee, but hopefully we’ll be going by feet or yardage.”
Garceau presented a snip-it of her presentation “Wawasee Then and Now,” which she will be presenting at 10 a.m. July 25, at Syracuse Community Center. The presentation uses the report of the area by George Miles while Indiana commissioner of fisheries and game. The native of Syracuse served as commissioner from 1909 until December 1914 when he passed away. His biannual report, published in 1915, paints a picture of Lake Wawasee.
Garceu will utilize the report and words of Miles with old photographs from then with recent photographs of the same areas. She also had available the book she co-authored about one year ago “Images of America Syracuse and Lake Wawasee,” with proceeds to the Syracuse Historical Museum.