The following is a version of the article I wrote for the March 2011 Pumpkinvine Trail Talk regarding trail maintenance. It is just as relevant today. Even though the creation of the trail has taken 20 years from purchase to settling legal issues to funding the development, we have always known that managing it once it is done would be as large …
Many of you have commented on Facebook about how much you enjoy the trail. Some of you have asked how you can help support it, and others have wondered if it needs financial support. The answer is yes, it needs financial support. The Friends of the Pumpkinvine are working with Goshen Parks, Elkhart County Parks, and the towns of Middlebury …
Early in the history of the Pumpkinvine Natural Trail, geneticist and naturalist Dr. Merle Jacobs emphasized that greenbelts like the Pumpkinvine are important corridors that connect plant and animal communities. On November 12, 2011, I attended the Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society annual conference at Indianapolis that reinforced Jacob’s point. The conference theme, “Connectivity & Corridors, “ illustrated the importance of …
Since many users of the Pumpkinvine are runners, I’m linking an article from the New York Times magazine about an interesting approach to running that claims to cause many fewer or no injuries, something the article claims is a problem for the vast majority (79%) of all runners. The Once and Future Way to Run
One of the contest categories in this year’s photo contest is “Focus on the Pumpkinvine” Photos in this category should capture the character of this blossoming county park. Photos in this category must be taken within the boundaries of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. Eligibility Any photographer can submit pictures for display; however, Elkhart County Parks and Recreation Department staff, their …
We are nearing 600 fans on our Friends of the Pumpkinvine Facebook page. Friends of the Pumpkinvine on Facebook. Most of the People I don’t know. It’s an entirely new set of connections to this project. Will they become supporters? That’s the question.
A letter in today’s Goshen News from Valerie Collins mentions the fact that one of the reasons she and her husband moved to Goshen was because of the bike trails, and one of the reasons they checked out Goshen was that they heard of “The Pumpkinvine Trail.” So it is true, at least for this family, that people make major choices …
