The Plymouth Park and Recreation Department is moving ahead with efforts to repair and extend the Greenway Trail.
Park superintendent Michael Hite updated the Board of Works Monday on the steps being taken to repair a section of the trail that had to be closed when part of the Yellow River’s embankment eroded, due in part to heavy rains this past spring. The town was awarded a $50,000 grant for the repair through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Lake and River enhancement program. Hite told the Board of Works that as part of the deal, the town has to contribute a 20 percent share to the project, or about $12,500, “What we’re looking to do is take that out of the non-reverting budget, so it isn’t really going to come in front of the Common Council or it doesn’t need to be approved by the state. That budget comes from our fee structure.”
He says he plans to ask permission from the Park Board on October 5 to advertise for a design and building project, “Hopefully, I’m looking for construction to come next fall – obviously when the river’s lower – to stabilize those banks.”
In the meantime, the Park and Recreation Department’s been able to create a temporary trail around the closed section, with the help of the Street and Sanitation Department.
Additionally, the Plymouth Common Council approved the transfer of more than $107,000 from the Greenway Trail’s construction fund to its engineering fund to allow work on the planning of Phase 2 to move ahead.
