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 …
The Town of Millersburg has been awarded a $20,000 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan grant from the Indiana Department of Health. This funding will support a community-wide plan focused on real safety needs, including the mix of heavy RV traffic and vulnerable road users like buggy and bicycle riders, and kids walking to school. Why this matters for our region: …
Trail improvements continue to make a difference across the county. One of the most exciting updates is the completion of the new bridge along US 33, which strengthens connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians alike. Each new connection like this helps more people move safely and comfortably, whether they’re heading to work, running errands, or enjoying the outdoors. Thank you to the …
After 23 years, we’re reimagining the Pumpkinvine Bike Ride—starting with a new date! Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 6, but that’s not the only update. We’re making changes to better serve our riders, volunteers, and the long-term sustainability of this event. At its peak in the early 2010s, the ride drew over 1,000 cyclists and 100+ volunteers. But in …
The Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition has highlighted the ongoing need for support to maintain and improve trails in Elkhart County. These trails provide a beautiful connection to nature and our communities, but they require regular care to remain safe and accessible. Unfortunately, funding from state and federal sources for such maintenance is extremely limited, making local contributions vital. Currently, our trails …
The Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) got a big boost to help plan a possible trail connecting Mishawaka and Elkhart. In June, MACOG was awarded a federal RAISE grant totaling $816,800. This grant gives momentum to the effort to plan the 11-mile connection between Mishawaka’s Riverwalk and Elkhart’s River Greenway. When constructed, it will complete a continuous 58-mile multi-use …
On June 25, more than 65 community members attended a workshop at the Nappanee Public Library to discuss a visionary multi-use trail connecting Nappanee and Wakarusa. The workshop cultivated lively discussion about moving the project forward in the community. The project Steering Committee, consisting of residents and representatives from nonprofits and various governmental agencies, was able to collect valuable must-haves …
Measuring usage of a trail relies on devices that count someone passing through a single spot. Trail counters in Elkhart County saw a remarkable 340,000 passes last year. This figure is based on the data received from four counters located on the Millrace and Pumpkinvine trails, as well as estimates developed after several counters experienced downtime. Michiana Area Council of …
Elkhart’s River Greenway Trail is nearly complete and is an exciting and important piece in connecting both our local and regional trails and pathways. The city of Elkhart received $642,600 from the state of Indiana to help fill in gaps in the long-planned trail. This project will span 4 miles when complete, paving 1.8 miles of existing gravel trail between …
Last July, the day after I got a new bike, I rode from Middlebury to Goshen with my husband. Since everything was new and different, I did not realize until we stopped for ice cream at the Chief that my phone mount had broken off and my phone was gone. We retraced the entire route searching frantically for my phone, …
If you are a Pumpkinvine “regular,” chances are you might have seen Lori Copsey on the trail. A 25-year Goshen resident and avid cyclist, Lori Copsey lives near the library, so it’s convenient for her to access the trail at Abshire Park where she begins most of her rides on the Pumpkinvine these days. Before the Pumpkinvine was built, Lori …
An article published in the Aug./Sept. issue of Elkhart County Living recalls the vision and development of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. The article is available here.
