Likewise,
the Friends of the Pumpkinvine have other priorities. Our time and money are
going toward closing the gap in the Pumpkinvine between CR 33 and CR 35. (Donations
welcome at www.pumpinvine.org.)
So while
I favor paving this 1.75-mile limestone section of trail to make it consistent
with the rest of the Pumpkinvine and would even consider having the Friends of
the Pumpkinvine help pay for it after we close the gaps in the trail, I think in
the meantime it is worth mentioning some of the advantages of limestone.
1.
Limestone
does not crack from the freeze-thaw cycle of winter, buckle from invasive tree
roots or have edges that crack from lack of support – all shortcomings of
asphalt. We already see bumps in asphalt sections of the Pumpkinvine between
mile markers 4.5 and 5 that are only six years old and severe cracking east of
County Road 127, but the limestone section is as smooth as it was when it was
laid in 1999, 16 years ago.
2.
Most
people would say that limestone is a more natural surface than asphalt, and as
a result it makes the trail look less like a road. As a result, it enhances our
ability to enjoy the vegetation, small animals, birds and trees along the
trail, the stimulation of our senses that we experience in nature.
3.
Limestone
is more forgiving surface than asphalt for the joints of walkers and runners. Most
joggers and walkers prefer limestone to asphalt because it is easier on the
knees and feet, which means they have fewer injuries and can potential run more
each year and run more years.
4.
Both
bikers and walkers make much more noise on limestone than they do on asphalt,
so that others ahead on the trail can hear them coming. Since many bikers don’t
bother to sound a bell to alert walkers that they are about to be passed, that
noise functions as a natural “bell,” alerting walkers to an approach bike. Thus,
with limestone-created noise, there is less chance for the bikers to hit the
walkers who don’t move or surprise the walkers who do move in the wrong
direction and cause a collision.
Of
course, limestone has disadvantages. It does not accommodate rollerbladers, is
a more difficult surface for pushing or propelling wheel chairs and can get very
rutted in the spring from the melting snow. In dry weather, it can coat a bike
with fine dust and in wet weather the coating is worse. Still, it works very
well most of the time.
On an
historical note, it is worth remembering that the Goshen Park and Recreation
Department built this section of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail with limestone
because they did not have enough money to do it in asphalt. Along with the
Friends of the Pumpkinvine, they believed that the best way to counter the
criticism of trail opponents who were claiming the trail would be a magnet for
crime was to build a demonstration section to show what the an actual trail
would look like and the type of people who would use it. Building that demonstration
section of trail was more important than waiting for the funds to build it with
an asphalt surface.
I think
they made the right decision. The attitude of the community changed after
people saw what the trail could be, making extending it to Middlebury and
Shipshewana possible. Without the limestone section to demonstrate an actual
trail, there wouldn’t be asphalt sections today.
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