Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee is currently selling black Syracuse-Wawasee Trail beanies to support its operations and projects. Modeling the beanies are committee members Tony Pawlicki, left, and Jerry Wright. InkFreeNews photo by Sarah Wright.

By Sarah Wright
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee has moved closer to realizing the funding necessary for its trail expansion feasibility study, thanks in part to end of year donations and the approval of several grants.

During the committee’s meeting Monday, Jan. 18, Trail Executive Director Erlene Yentes said that $17,700 is still needed to fully fund the feasibility study for future trail development. So far, $82,300 has been raised or committed to the study.

Funding has recently been given by the Kenneth and Lela Harkless Foundation and Kosciusko County Community Foundation in addition to the previously announced K21 Health Foundation grant. The trail committee also participated in Giving Tuesday, raising $1,975, which should be matched by Facebook.

Donors have provided support for the study, following additional year-end mailings and in response to the December newsletter.

Also supporting fundraising efforts are the ongoing sales of the Conklin Bay Trail note cards and Syracuse-Wawasee Trail beanies.

In addition to connecting with donors, the trail committee is looking at developing more fundraising events besides the annual Tour des Lakes. A Taste of Syracuse event was suggested. Committee member Chad Jonsson noted the idea had been floated years ago by the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce and thought it could be a fun event; however, it would require buy-in from local businesses and restaurants. Several committee members will brainstorm ideas for this potential event.

While exploring fundraising opportunities, the trail committee will work with USI on the next steps of the feasibility study and ensure all grant requirements are met.

Committee President Kay Young noted, “We’ve got Conklin Bay in, and it’s so visible I think we are going to continue to see (donations) grow.”

The sentiment was carried by treasurer Tom Edington. “I think in the end, getting the study and doing it as soon as possible and having a project that people focus on, that is when people wrote checks. When they see that project, that will get us moving again — COVID or not. See and feel that next project.”

In other trail committee news:

• Research continues on cattail control along the Conklin Bay Trail, with trail committee member and WACF Ecology Committee member Steven Coyle heading the effort.
• Tour des Lakes is slated for July 17.
• Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee is now available as a charity to support via AmazonSmile.
• Yentes is joining nonprofit Bicycle Indiana’s board of directors. She noted it will be a good opportunity to form partnerships while learning and collaborating.

The next trail committee meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, in the trail office, 207 N. Huntington St.