In late summer Shipshewana received a donation of land need to extend the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail from County Road 850 W into town. Construction of one mile of trail is expected to start in the spring of 2021. A trail head will be built in Wolfe Park near the town hall.
In the autumn of 2019 Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail purchased another parcel of land needed for the trail extension. Last winter Friends transferred ownership of that parcel to the Town of Shipshewana.
Many sections of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail are over 10 years old. Erosion threatens to undermine the asphalt at some locations where the trail was built on a raised railroad bed. On May 1st Elkhart County Parks used a front loader tractor to move 100 tons of #53 gravel to an eroded area near County Road 26 just east of County Road 31. Four Friends volunteers spread the gravel after it was delivered by the tractor. Other sites need similar repair and Friends expect the work to continue into 2021.
The collaboration between Friends and Elkhart County Parks provides considerable savings compared to hiring a contractor. Friends bought the gravel with trail maintenance funds donated by trail supporters.
Photo of a tractor front loader delivering gravel to a trail repair site. The collaboration between Friends and Elkhart County Parks provides considerable savings compared to hiring a contractor. Friends bought the gravel with trail maintenance funds donated by trail supporters.
Volunteers at worksite.