SYRACUSE — Citizens of Syracuse will no longer have to play “Frogger” to cross SR 13 in order to continue on the Pickwick Drive section of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail. According to Megan McClellan at the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee meeting Monday, April 17, work on the crosswalk will likely begin at the beginning of June — depending on the weather — and wrap up by the month’s end.

“I had a meeting with all parties involved,” McClellan said, adding, “The town of Syracuse has agreed to do some of the work.”

The town will install the sidewalk and landscaping along East Pickwick Drive next to Dairy Queen, and it will be providing the material for that section of the project. The rest of the work will be completed by Pulver Asphalt and Paving of Albion.

“Everyone is happy with it,” McClellan said, adding she will be getting an updated estimate from Pulver, which will be less now with the town’s involvement.

McClellan is also in contact with Dairy Queen to see about additional landscaping between the trail’s sidewalk and the business.

The crosswalk will have push buttons; however, the Indiana Department of Transportation has said traffic on SR 13 will not be impacted. The crossing will give pedestrians cues about when it is safe to cross, with crosswalk striping also improving safety.

It was also announced at the meeting the Conklin Bay bridge and trail project had received a $100,000 direct Dekko Foundation grant. Additionally, there is a $100,000 possible matching donation grant, which is also from the Dekko Foundation. Foundation moneys cannot be applied to the matching grant; instead, funds needing to come from individuals or businesses directly.

In other trail committee news:

• Committee members discussed various methods to recognize donors. Heather Harwood, with the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, is putting together ideas.
• A dog bags holder and newsletter holder will be installed at the kiosk on Pickwick Drive. Additionally, two fade-free maps will replace sun-bleached maps at the Harold Schrock Athletic Complex kiosk.
• Tour des Lakes received a $2,000 sponsorship from K-21, which will be used mainly for outreach. The event has 100 registrants so far, with June 1 marking when the price increases. The committee also discussed the possibility of having a beer garden and live DJ for the event.
• Tails and Trails is scheduled to occur from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Syracuse Community Center. A rain date is scheduled for the same time and location Saturday, April 29.
• Other events include trail cleanup 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 21, at the SCC; WACF Earth Day 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the WACF’s SR 13 property; bike rodeo 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 6, at SCC; spring trail counts May 14-20; Lakes Festival 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 27, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 28, in Warsaw; and Mudtastic Classic 11 a.m. Saturday, June 24, at the WACF’s SR 13 property. Syracuse-Wawasee Trail is looking for volunteers for several of these events.

Next meeting is at 6 p.m. Monday, May 15, at the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail office.