The Veterans Memorial Trail



In 1999, the Indiana Department of Transportation awarded the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department a grant of $1.4 million towards the construction of the Veterans Memorial Trail, and multi-use, non-motorized facility which would start at the World Wars Memorial property, and run along U.S. 231 following the abandoned Pennsylvania Railroad corridor, to the Porter County line - a distance of nine (9) miles.  At this time, many parcels of property have been acquired with the assistance of the FVMP towards the establishment of the FIRST trail in the United States named in honor of our veterans.  In addition, at least five of the proposed nine miles will have an equestrian trail paralleling the bike/hike path. As of January 2006, the Lake County Parks Dept. expects to complete this facility within the next two to three years.

VET TRAIL PUBLIC HEARING

On Thursday, July 20th, 2006, the Lake County Parks Department hosted the official Public Hearing for the Veterans Memorial Trail.  There were over 100 in attendance, with over half in favor of the trail.  It's not too late to levy your support - please contact Craig Zandstra at Lake County Parks at 291-755-3685.

Vet Trail Part of ADT!

The Veterans Memorial Trail, once built, will be part of the nationwide American Discovery Trail (ADT) network which is planned to run from Delaware to California.  The ADT route splits into northern and southern routes in Cincinnati, and comes back together near Denver.  The ADT is a new breed of national trail - part city, part small town, part forest, part mountains, part desert - all in one trail.  It is 6,300 miles of adventure, discovery and fun.  For more information on this landmark trail effort, please visit the official ADT website at www.discoverytrail.org.