Construction on the MapleHeart - Oct. 25

Here are a few scenes from the construction on the MapleHeart, the part that will link that trail to the Pumpkinvine.  These photos are of the section between Oak Ridge Park and Main St., the part that was most challenging, since they had to go under the 3rd St. overpass.  Construction of the MapleHeart Trail in Goshen  It is possible that due to the rain they won't be finished by Nov. 1.

I asked one of the workers about the gravel section between Main St. and the Pumpkinvine, and she said that it would remain gravel until the city finished some sewer work in that area. But it is rideable surface. I met three bikers on it earlier in the week.

MapleHeart opening

The official opening of the MapleHeart Trail was this afternoon. Because of the rain and cool weather, the crowd was small. We gathered under a small tent. Mary Cripe thanked those who had contributed to the project through the years. Mayors Allan Kauffman of Goshen and Dick Moore of Elkhart each celebrated this new connection between the two cities aftern many years of being on the drawing board. 

Mary and the mayors took turns driving a "Golden Spoke" into a hole in the concrete to commorate the occasion, similar to the way the railroads did in 1869 with the driving of the "Golden Spike" to symbolize the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

Here's a link to WNDU's story:  MapleHeart story

Here are two photos of the occasion:  Mary Cripe, mayors Kauffman and Moore

Wild turkeys



Three wild turkeys along the Pumpkinvine.

 I saw about 10 turkeys walk across the Pumpkinvine north of SR 4 this morning. They walked in single file slowly across the trail, ignoring me. By the time I could get my camera out and get closer, they were in the brush.

Part of Pumpkinvine Nature Trail closed to redeck bridge

NOTICE: On  Saturday Oct. 8, the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail will be closed between County Road 43 and County Road 1150 W from 8:30 a.m. until it is finished in order to redeck the bridge east of CR 43. There is no way around the bridge reconstruction. Trail users must use CR 16/250N to the south or CR 10/450 N to the north as a detour around this section.  It  is possible that the work will not be completed on Oct. 8, in which case it will be closed till it is finished on Oct. 10 or 11. Message from Elkhart County Parks and Friends of the Pumpkinvine. 

Ribbon cutting for MapleHeart Trail

The ribbon cutting for the MapleHeart Trail linking Goshen and Elkhart will be Thursday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. at Ox Bow Park.