Friday, April 29, 2016

Help dedicate new Centennial Trail at Raccoon SRA

The public is invited to the May 6 dedication of a new paved multi-use trail at Raccoon State Recreation Area.

Completing the Centennial Trail is one of many ways Indiana State Parks is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. The dedication is at 11 a.m. EDT. Those planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP to pwrightsman@dnr.IN.gov by May 3.

The 0.8-mile trail winds through a wooded area from the campground store to the beach. In addition to being a nice, accessible path for recreation, the trail also provides a way for campers to get to the beach and back on foot or bike without having to use the main road.

The project was a partnership between the DNR divisions of Engineering and State Parks and the Indiana Department of Transportation. Construction cost about $1.3 million, with most funding coming through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration's Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program, which is aimed at relieving congestion on park roads.

"We are excited to provide this easily accessible trail for users to enjoy Raccoon State Recreation Area in a new and different manner," said Dan Bortner, director of Indiana State Parks.

The Centennial Trail is the fourth of at least 12 Centennial Legacy Projects that will be dedicated in 2016 as a way of commemorating the 100th birthday of Indiana's state parks system.

Other Centennial Legacy Project dedicated so far are new exhibits at the Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center, the Rose Island Interpretive Trail at Charlestown State Park and the restored Lieber Memorial at Turkey Run State Park.

Raccoon State Recreation Area (stateparks.IN.gov/2959.htm) is at 1588 S. Raccoon Parkway, Rockville, IN 47872.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.



Media contact: Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship, DNR Division of State Parks, (317) 232-4143, gmurphy@dnr.IN.gov.