Trail expansion aligns with Governor Mike Braun’s commitment to health and the outdoors
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the towns of Burns Harbor and Porter celebrated the groundbreaking of two segments of the Marquette Greenway today, which aligns with Governor Mike Braun's focus on making Indiana healthy and supporting time outdoors.
"Once complete, these new sections of the Marquette Greenway in Burns Harbor and Porter will offer residents a great way to stay active, enjoy nature, and connect with their community," said Governor Braun. "Trails are essential links across Indiana, and we're proud to partner with the visionary leaders in northwest Indiana who are bringing the Marquette Greenway to life, section by section."
Two segments of 10-foot-wide asphalt multi-use trail will be constructed as part of the Marquette Greenway expansion. The town of Burns Harbor received a DNR grant for $5 million to build 0.82 miles of trail, which includes extensive grading, retaining walls, and a boardwalk to cross under the Norfolk Southern Railroad and over the Little Calumet River. The trail will extend from the existing terminus of the Marquette Greenway east of State Road 149 to Babcock Road.
The town of Porter received a DNR grant of $2,077,016 to build 1.04 miles of trail from Babcock Road to Howe Road.
The Marquette Greenway is a proposed 60-mile corridor from Chicago to New Buffalo, Michigan, connecting five Indiana counties and 15 municipalities. Today's groundbreaking adds to the 32 miles of existing open trail. Twenty-six additional miles of trail construction are planned for future segments.
"The Indiana DNR funding partnership between the town of Burns Harbor and the State of Indiana has catalyzed Marquette Greenway development," said Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission President Roseann Bozak.
"We are thrilled to begin construction on the most complex section of trailway in collaboration with DNR, the town of Porter, and the National Park Service. Once completed, trail users will enjoy Burns Harbor's unique vista of natural and steel heritage through the Indiana Dunes National Park."
DNR has led the largest infusion of trails funding in state history, with $180 million in dedicated trail funding administered through DNR that facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. To date, 61 of the 89 projects are complete, totaling more than 172 miles of trail built since the program's inception.