Miles of routes approved as Hometown Collaboration Initiative

The Pulaski County Community Development Commission is seeing the hard work of the community come together as the proposed project for the Hometown Collaboration Initiative has been approved. 
Community development commission executive director Nathan Origer recently announced that the proposed project, Pulaski County Bike Route Network, along with a tourism strategic plan, were approved by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. 
Origer said the grant was offered during the early part of 2015. He said an initial group was organized for the grant process but the work didn’t get underway until March of 2015. 
As part of the project, the group began meeting on a regular basis, holding a public forum and completing a survey. Since then the project has become something more tangible. 
In May, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs approved the proposal with a couple of caveats, according to Origer. 
The project will expand the already established bike routes in Pulaski County. Those routes include the Panhandle Pathway, Winamac Parkway and Pulaski County Bike Route #1 that spans 14.1 miles between the Winamac Town Park and the Erie Trail in Monterey. 
It could add nine or 10 new paths. Origer said there are a couple proposed trails that are questionable because some of the route is gravel. He estimated the routes could be between 150 miles to about 300 miles. 
One route could travel into Fulton County because it will travel around Bruce Lake. A second travels into Starke County to tie to a trail that goes through North Judson. A trail will also travel into Jasper County and meet with a proposed on-road bike route. Origer said he will need to obtain permission from those county commissioners. 
The Pulaski County Community Development Commission will soon receive $10,000 to use toward implementing the project. There is also a local match of $5,000. The plan is to use the $15,000 to create map brochures and purchase various sizes of signs to mark the trail and the trailhead. Some signs will indicate how many miles until the next destination. 
Origer said a portion of the funds will pay for a traffic count completed by Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission (KIRPC). Origer has driven each proposed route to get a general feel for traffic flow and whether the roadway is gravel or pavement. 
He used the example that the count will indicate what kind of vehicles are likely to travel on that road such as cars or semis and at what time of day there is the most traffic. According to Origer, the highway department has already received the proposed plan to review.  
Origer said not only will the signs indicate the routes but some may also indicate a special attraction such as a nature preserve. Signs will be made for “anything that people would potentially come to Pulaski County to do even if they weren’t riding their bikes.” 
After the traffic counting is completed, the routes will be finalized. Origer is hoping the project will be completed by October, so group rides can be done during the Torchfest. 
The project has been the hard work of CDC project coordinator Krysten Hinkle, Origer and a local committee of individuals. Origer said volunteers are now helping to implement the plan by riding the proposed routes. Some feedback has also been given on the proposed routes. 
The hope is that in the future the routes will attract  new businesses or that local businesses will install bike racks to attract bicycle riders. 
Origer is also hoping that the local campgrounds will encourage campers to bring their bicycles along so they can hit the trails. 
One of the caveats from the state regarding the approving of the project is that a tourism advisory committee be formed. Origer said at this time, he is unsure of how it will be set up but some of the current Hometown Collaboration Initiative may also be a part of the tourism committee. 
Once the project has been completed, CDC could apply for a second Hometown Collaboration Initiative grant. Origer said the grant could take on a new focus, instead of a quality of life project it could focus on an entrepreneurship or leadership project. He used the example that a future project could be public-accessible bathrooms at the various towns on the trails.