The Greenways Foundation promotes greenways, blueways and multi-use trails in Indiana.

**Please save the date for our first Virtual Luncheon on Thursday, September 24 from noon to 1 p.m. EST.** We ask you to join us as we host our annual fundraising event live online. Details to follow shortly on registration and sponsorship.

During this online event, we will be celebrating the Indiana Greenways Awards recipients. We look forward to having you join us!

Trail of the Month

It is no surprise that the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy named the Erie Lackawanna Trail its March 2018 Trail of the Month. Stretching from Crown Point to Hammond, this 17.7-mile greenway travels through pockets of landscapes, from prairie remnants to wetlands to urban and suburban neighborhoods. Paved and gently graded, this pathway is well worth a visit, and is close to several other enticing Northwest Indiana trails.

Erie Lackawanna Trail, TrailLink

Trail of the Month: Erie Lackawanna Trail, RTC

Biking to work along the Erie Lackawanna Trail, South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority

Northwest Indiana Greenways & Blueways Map, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (PDF, 5.3 MB)

Our Trail of the Month feature is sponsored by Citizens Energy Group.

Getting around

Fort Wayne Trails has lined up a busy season of events, starting with the Pufferbelly Run, Walk & Stroll. Others include Trek the Trails and the Trailblazers Hiking Program. Learn more on the Fort Wayne Trails Events page.

The Hoosier Mountain Bike Association has cancelled its annual Big Woods Brown County Epic Ride, originally scheduled for October 10 in a scaled-back version. Watch the HMBA web site for information about purchasing swag and a tee shirt for the “Epic that wasn’t.”

Pogue’s Run Trail is getting revitalized, thanks to a neighborhood initiative called Pathways Over Pogue’s that is raising money to repair the historic 1903 Nowland Avenue Bridge, a classic example of the Luten Arch.

The Greenways Foundation awarded a grant to POP to help pay for the design phase of the project.

The Greenways Foundation regrets that the next two rounds of the Next Level Trails program have been placed on indefinite hold. Hoosiers across the state are visiting our trails in record numbers during the COVID pandemic, taking advantage of the outdoors to improve both their physical and mental health.

Although we certainly respect the state’s fiscal situation, in light of the critical benefits trails provide, and especially magnified during this crisis, we hope Governor Holcomb will reverse course on his decision and award round two funding immediately and keep in place the summer solicitation plans for round three. We intend to contact the Governor and his staff about our request.

We encourage you and your organizations to also contact Governor Holcomb’s office to let him know how valuable this funding is to the quality of life for all Hoosiers.

Thank you for your support & Happy Trails,
President Mitch Barloga and the entire Greenways Foundation

Trail safety infographics

Download and use these infographics to educate local trail users in this age of Covid-19.

From the National Recreation & Park Association and the Rails to Trails Conservancy (PDF, 2.8 MB).

From the Greenways Foundation of Indiana (PDF, 342 KB).

Greenways Foundation Annual Report

You may download our 2019 Annual Report (PDF, 664 KB) or read the synopsis below.

The Greenways Foundation presented our 2020 Legislative Platform with the help of Indiana trail stakeholders. We continue to work with state legislators on funding the existing Trails Maintenance Fund, and sustainable funding for new trails when the Next Level Trails program is complete. The demand for trails in Indiana is strong!

In October and November, the Foundation partnered with the Indiana Parks & Recreation Assocation (IPRA) to conduct six Trail Town Workshops throughout the state. In all, more than 200 participants in Carmel, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Portage, South Bend and Terre Haute learned about this emerging national program, and strategies to promote trails in their communities. The Greenways Foundation plans to work with the IPRA and other agencies to promote Trail Towns as a designated program in Indiana during 2020.

Our state license plate accounts for our main source of revenue. At the end of 2019, there were 1,620 plates sold for a total income of $40,500. Those who buy plates become new members of the Foundation. Thanks to our state plates, we were able to award $30,477 in grants to four organizations in 2019! These include:

$5,000 to Syracuse-Wawasee Trails to aid with the construction of the Conklin Bay Boardwalk & Trail;
$11,613 for two grants to the Midwest Equine Trail Foundation for equipment purchases;
$10,000 to Fort Wayne Trails to aid with the construction of the Golden Spike Trail;
$3,865 to the Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail to aid with the purchasing of trail counters.

Financial Report 2019

Inflow $67,200
License plates 60%
Annual luncheon 33%
Donations 7%

Outflow $52,900
Grants program 77%
Fundraising 14%
— Luncheon venue, printing, marketing, conferences
Business expenses 9%
— Community engagement, accounting services, board insurance, reimbursements