About the Initiative
Trails do more than connect point A to point B—they connect people to nature, to neighbors, and to community life. The Community Foundation of Elkhart County is proud to support Connect in Elkhart County, a long-range plan to create a more walkable, bikeable, and connected region.
This work builds on the legacy of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, a 17-mile greenway that stretches from Goshen to Shipshewana. Begun in the early 1990s, the trail was championed by local residents and volunteers who preserved the original Pumpkinvine railroad corridor and transformed it into one of the most beloved regional trails in Indiana. In 2024, the final gap in the trail was completed, marking a major milestone for the Pumpkinvine Trails coalition and its many partners.
Recognizing the power of that achievement, the Community Foundation partnered with the coalition and hundreds of local stakeholders to support and expand a broader trail network. In 2018, we helped launch Connect in Elkhart County, a countywide trail master plan that envisions stronger links between towns, neighborhoods, parks, and regional trail systems.
This initiative goes beyond recreation. It aims to:
• Promote public health by encouraging outdoor activity
• Enhance quality of life and support local economic development
• Ensure safe and accessible paths for people of all ages and abilities
• Foster environmental stewardship through green infrastructure
• Strengthen community connection within Elkhart County and beyond
Looking ahead, Connect in Elkhart County is also focused on extending trail connections into and out of the county—creating vital links to neighboring communities across northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
Thanks to generous donors and ongoing collaboration with cities, towns, planners, and volunteers, new trail segments are being planned and built with long-term impact in mind. Together, we’re helping create a future where trails connect more than destinations—they help communities thrive.
Visit the Pumpkinvine Trails coalition at pumpkinvine.org
