SR 124 Trail Project - Bluffton, IN
Wells County Trail's top priority trail project is the connection of the Bluffton Woods Manufactured Home Community and Elm Grove Rd with the existing Interurban Trail (Poka-Bache Connector Trail). The goal is to make this connection with a dedicated paved trail and sidewalk system that will provide for safe pedestrian and bicycle movement along the busy State Road 124 corridor on the east side of Bluffton, Indiana.
Looking East From Interurban Trail - Main Street
Looking East From Fairview
Cemetery
Looking West From Johnson Ditch Bridge
NEWS
SR 124 Pedestrian Pathway Feasibility Study Approved:
Engineering Resources has agreed to provide a preliminary engineering design associated with a new pedestrian pathway on SR 124 from Main Street to Elm Grove Rd. The proposed study will assess the feasibility of a new pedestrian-friendly pathway that will enhance the connectivity, safety, and mobility for residents and visitors. While the need for a sidewalk along this corridor is evident, the existing SR 124 corridor provides unique design challenges.
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Engineering Resources is headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN, and has just recently opened an office in Bluffton. The new office is located at 360 N Main Street, Suite G, which is at the west terminus of the proposed pathway. As part of their commitment to community service, Engineering Resources has offered to provide this service free of charge. Engineering Resources will collaborate with City representatives as well as INDOT to determine a recommended location and alignment for the proposed pathway.
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Over the past few months, Wells County Trails has been raising money to pay for preliminary engineering design services. Wells County Trails will now be able to redirect these funds to a later phase of the project.
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Fundraising hits 35% of our $25,000.00 Goal.
6 Step Process
Step 1: Public Outreach: Wells County Trails conducted a public meeting on September 29, 2022, to discuss the potential SR 124 trail project with local landowners and stakeholders. The meeting helped us form our game plan moving forward regarding the goals for this corridor. The most significant finding is that there is strong public support for the project.
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Step 2: Understand the Challenges: Wells County Trails has partnered with NIRCC (Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council to complete a red flag investigation along the route to better understand any challenges that will need to be addressed during the project. Click HERE to review the findings of the red flag investigation. We have already started to investigate some of these findings further.
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Step 3: Develop a Game Plan (Current Step): We are currently at this point in the process of developing a trail along the SR 124 corridor. We are looking to hire an engineering firm to develop an engineering study looking at different route options, trail designs, and estimated costs. This information will then better inform Wells County Trails and the City of Bluffton on how to best move forward. We are currently seeking donations to help with the cost of the engineering study. The Wells County Foundation has funded a dollar-for-dollar matching grant through the Eli Lilly Foundation to help pursue this study. Your contribution to the engineering study will be matched! See the donation information below.
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Step 4: Complete Engineering: Once the engineering study is complete. Wells County Trails and the City of Bluffton will move forward with completing the necessary construction plans on the selected route and design. Depending on the type of grant funding that we pursue to cover the construction costs may be done before the grant application or as part of the grant package.
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Step 5: Construction Funding: Wells County Trails and the City of Bluffton will be looking to create a public/private partnership to help bring together the best funding options for the construction of the trail. With a project of this magnitude, it will take private contributions, local government contributions, and grants will be needed to make this project possible. We will actively work with our project engineer and local leadership to pursue state or federal grants to help lower the cost burden on local government and philanthropic giving.
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Step 6: Construction: The final phase of this project will be the selection of a contractor and the physical construction of the trail. This will most likely be done within the confines of the state or federal funding opportunity that we select that best fits this project.
Thanks Contributors
Diamond Sponsors:
Wells County Foundation
Engineering Resources
Gold Sponsors:
Jon & Joan Whicker
Michael & Bri Lautzenheiser
National Oil & Gas
Blake & Fawn Gerber
Silver Sponsors:
Mark & Kathy Miller
Roger Shearer
First Bank of Berne
Andrew Springer
Honegger, Ringger & Co., Inc.
Donald Bowman
Bronze Sponsors:
Thomas Miller
Craigville Appliance
Bluffton Roofing Co. - James Worth
Bluffton Dental Clinic
Bluffton Elks Lodge
Friend of Trail:
Jenny Frauhiger
Mary Kay Cosmetics, Beck Goshorn
Dennis Klopfenstein
American Salvage Co.
David and Lori Smith - A1 U-Store
Tanya & Bob Caylor​​
How Can You Help
There are 3 avenues to help move this project from priority to reality.
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1. Share about this project with your friends and family
2. Share about this project on social media. Follow Wells County Trails on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the project and stay up to date on fundraising efforts.
3. Contribute financially towards the dollar-for-dollar matching grant through the Wells County Foundation. Your donation will be matched until we hit our $25,000.00 fundraising goal.
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Donation Levels:
Diamond - $2,500.00*
Gold - $1,000.00*
Silver - $500.00*
Bronze - $250.00*
Friend of the Trail - $50.00
*Donation level will qualify for a free Wells County Trails T-Shirt while sizing and quantities last. T-Shirts will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis.​
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Donations will be commemorated on this page and on our social media pages!
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Fundraising Brochure: CLICK HERE
Fundraising Letter: CLICK HERE
​Donation Slip: CLICK HERE
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Make checks out to Wells County Foundation, Inc.
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Mail Checks & Completed Donation Slip To:
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Wells County Foundation, Inc.
Note: "SR 124 Project" in the memo
222 W Market St
Bluffton, IN 46714
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