(LAGRANGE) - Land has been purchased for the Hawpatch Trail Project.
On November 26, LaGrange County Trails officially purchased 114 acres from Norfolk and Southern Railroad at a price of $1.1 million. This secures the abandoned rail corridor that will become the backbone of the Hawpatch Trail. The acquisition concludes five years of negotiations and gives the organization full control to begin designing and engineering the trail system.
The 17 mile corridor runs through Millersburg, Topeka and Wolcottville. With the LaGrange County land parcels now secured, LaGrange County Trails can start developing the first two phases of one of the County's largest multi-use trail projects.
Jeff Wingstrom, President of LaGrange County Trails, says this is the moment they have been working towards for years. He says this is the foundation for the project that will benefit the community for decades.
Securing the land is a pivotal milestone for the Hawpatch Trail. It positions the non-profit to begin transitioning from negotiations to active construction planning.
Funding for the purchase came through a $1.5 million LaGrange County Major Moves Grant, approved in 2020 by both the LaGrange County Commission and the LaGrange County Council.
County officials have expressed strong support for the long term community impact of the trail.
The Hawpatch Trail is envisioned as a multi-use connection between Noble County's Fishing Line Trail and Elkhart County's Connect In Elkhart Trail. When complete, the full 17 mile route will represent an estimated $18 million investment.
Phases 1 and 2, approximately 10 miles in and around Topeka, will form the project's foundation.