If you’ve driven past the Miller Athletic Complex on Kings Highway in Winona Lake, you’ve probably noticed some work being done across the street from the complex.

The construction is to make way for more Lake City Greenway trails in the town of Winona Lake. Winona Lake Town Coordinator Craig Allebach says these plans go back nearly a decade.

The work near the athletic complex is part of Phase 4A in the trails project. The new trail starts at Boys City Drive, on to a boardwalk over the creek, around the existing mountain bike trails south of the park, up along Kings Highway, crossing the street at the athletic complex, then along the tree line at the baseball fields, cuts through the woods, hangs a left running parallel to Robson Road, then a little switchback and it terminates at Beta Hall on Grace College’s campus. It also includes approximately a dozen additional parking spaces near the athletic complex. A rendering of the plans is below.

Map of the trails in Winona Lake. The new trail is in green. (Photo Provided)

“Ultimately, our goal is to build this out and get the whole town connected via sidewalks and greenways,” explains Allebach. “This is part of a total linear plan that went from Roy Street all the way out to the CCAC.”

The project is expected to cost $1,146,692. INDOT awarded $635,950 Transportation Enhancement Funds for the project in 2008. Allebach said the town needed more, and got it. At present, INDOT has provided $756,200 for the project, while the town has supplied $390,492, as part of an 80/20 match agreement.

Tree clearing for the trails began in late March. Allebach says the construction phase will begin during the first week of May. He advises that Kings Highway will remain open, aside from some very quick closings (minutes, hours at the most) near the athletic complex. A cross walk will be constructed there which will have flashing lights to alert motorists of pedestrians.

Upon completion, the trails will offer a 20-foot-wide right of way with a 12 foot-wide shared path. Allebach expects the project to be completed, or at the very least usable, in August, by the time Grace College starts classes in the fall. Local contractor Phend & Brown is handling construction duties.

Some additional soil is being brought in to build a base under the path. Allebach says the town worked with Grace College to preserve as many trees as possible while clearing the way for the new trails.

Allebach says there additional trail plans in the works. The town hopes to construct a trail from the athletic complex to Lakeland Christian Academy sometime down the road. A trail head at the Limitless Park Splashpad is also being considered.

With the town adding more and more tourist attractions, Allebach says Winona Lake wants to offer as many options as possible – without getting back on the roads. “Maybe the family has five different interests, and if they want to go in different directions, they can,” he says.

Additional trails and sidewalks are planned for the purpose of getting kids to and from school without ever getting on roads. Allebach even says there’s talk of the municipality providing bikes for use on the paths.