On a cold April morning, Rory Robinson and Paul Labovitz rolled onto the Pumpkinvine with a few of the people who helped build it. The wind had teeth, but riders were already out, which surprised no one and pleased everyone. Rory has spent a career fighting for trails across the Midwest. Paul ran the Indiana Dunes as National Park Service …
Hundreds of riders joined us for this year’s Pumpkinvine Classic on Saturday September 6. What a wonderful day! This was the 24th annual event. In previous years, it took place in June, but last year we moved it to September and this year it was the first weekend of the month, alongside several other events in our community. We were …
We spend a lot of time in meetings as we lay groundwork for more trails, but we’re excited to be offering times that you can gather along the trail network to get updates and see things first-hand. We did our first Trail Talk earlier this summer at Mooey’s, the ice cream shop between Goshen and Middlebury, and were delighted to have …
This summer included a fabulous program to help teach bike maintenance, a big need in our community. The Ready to Ride Junior Bicycle Mechanics Program was coordinated by Josh Robeson and Colleen New and included a three-week bicycle mechanics class in June for twelve middle school students at the Tolson Center. They met three days per week for safety and mechanics training, …
We are excited to help host Melissa Bruntlett, an advocate for inclusive design in our communities, for the next Building Blocks Talk. She will be speaking on “Cycling Towards Empathy” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Goshen Theater Ballroom, 216. S. Main St., Goshen. Building Blocks Talks bring speakers to Elkhart County to share how design, planning, and preservation strengthen …
We’ve been hearing concerns about how fast some users are going on the trails, especially with e-bikes. We want to clarify what’s allowed and remind everyone of safe trail etiquette. E-bikes can be a great option: they extend range, make biking possible for those with physical limitations, and help families ride together. But because they can increase speed, inconsiderate use …
This June, young people in Elkhart will have the chance to learn hands-on bike repair skills through the Junior Bicycle Mechanics Program at the Tolson Center for Community Excellence. The program will be led by Josh Robeson, an Americorps member serving the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition, and Colleen New, an educator who has facilitated various bicycle education programs with and for the South Bend Bike Garage. The effort …
We’re excited to launch a new bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group in the Wakarusa & Nappanee area. If you’re interested in helping shape the future of walking and biking in your community, we’d love for you to be part of this effort. Join the Community Advocate Group » With so much happening, there are plenty of ways to get involved. …
This fall, two major improvement projects were completed on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail in Goshen. A previously unpaved 1.8-mile section of the trail between S.R. 4 (Lincoln Avenue) and C.R. 28 was paved, offering a smoother and more consistent experience for everyone who uses it. This upgrade makes it easier to navigate for cyclists, walkers, joggers, and families with strollers in …
From June 7 to 15, we celebrated the completion of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail after more than three decades of work. After years of working and hoping, the final stretch of trail was completed last fall and we focused on planning a summer celebration. At First Friday in Goshen, we celebrated bicycling and enjoyed a great concert by The Steel …
A collaboration between multiple governmental and nonprofit agencies will soon result in the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail being paved from Goshen’s Abshire Park at Lincoln Avenue/S.R. 4 to C.R. 28. Construction will be complete before October of this year, but a start date will be determined by the contractor. The City of Goshen, Community Foundation of Elkhart County and Friends of …
Dear Pumpkinvine Nature Trail supporter, The final section of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail between county roads 20 and 35 in Middlebury is now open to the public. Walkers, runners and cyclists can now travel easily between Goshen, Middlebury, and Shipshewana without leaving the safety of the trail. The vision, decades in the making, is finally complete. It’s difficult to fully …
