The goal of Connect in Elkhart County is for trails and pathways to spread throughout the county much like a well-tended vine.

More than 30 years ago, the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail started as a wild idea and over the last three decades has become one of the county’s most-loved and best-used trails. The former railroad corridor from Goshen to Shipshewana has a trail that is used by several hundred thousand people each year.

The final stretch of the trail is being completed this fall, allowing runners, walkers, and bicyclists to traverse the 17-mile trail without riding on county roads south of Middlebury.

The Friends of the Pumpkinvine Board is working on strategic planning alongside Connect in Elkhart County for what happens next. Momentum from the completion of the original Pumpkinvine trail is fueling additional conversations about trail growth across Elkhart County.

Connect in Elkhart County is an initiative of the Community Foundation to connect and grow the trails in our community. The success of the Pumpkinvine and the partnerships that created it have cultivated fertile ground out of which additional efforts, in partnership with municipalities and other organizations, can grow.

Supporters of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail gather at the event announcing the project to complete the trail. (Photos by Bryan Chris)

The Placemaking Committee of the Community Foundation has contributed significant dollars to build trails in our community, but over the last several years, the efforts grew to create Connect in Elkhart County and hire Brittany Short as the initiative director in 2022.

Over the last year, the River Greenway Trail opened in Elkhart from the Elkhart Environmental Center to the River District downtown. The Community Foundation contributed $205,000 alongside city and state funds to create the beautiful, 1.86-mile stretch of trail along the Elkhart River. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 11 included Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson, who touted the economic value of trails in the state and this community.

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“Great things are happening,” says Short, who also spoke at the event opening the trail. “We have connection and collaboration and the initiative is slowly growing. That allows the work to gain speed.”

Nonprofits are working with municipal highway departments to advocate for trail projects. Planners and engineers who work on plans for their community are now more aware of what similar folks are doing in neighboring communities.

Bicyclists (along with walkers and runners) are seeking out pathways in Elkhart County and are excited as they grow, evolve and connect.

New sections of trail are underway in Elkhart County. The River Mill Trail in Middlebury is under construction. A mile-long stretch near downtown is expected to be done in 2024. Middlebury received just over $700,000 in state funding and the Community Foundation granted $212,125 toward that effort.

One of the most exciting possibilities is a trail connecting the town of Wakarusa and the city of Nappanee. The idea sprouted from Vibrant Communities conversations. Now, residents from both communities are working to promote the idea of a six-mile trail. It could be used recreationally, but also by young people who want to safely ride their bicycles to a Wa-Nee school. “It’s really a grassroots thing,” says Short. “It’s just a matter of bringing it to life.”

The Community Foundation is helping trails grow and intertwine with each other. “We’re gaining momentum and it’s super exciting,” says Short.

This story appeared in the 2023 Annual Report.