VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Behind Ivy Tech Community College in Terre Haute is a plot of land scattered with newly planted trees, and the potential for new trails.
“We a few years ago started working on outdoor classroom space and some actual walking trails and Indiana Trees space,” said Chancellor Lee Anne Crooks.
The college, with help from the Vigo County Parks Department, will be applying for a Next Level Trails Grant to build on the space.
The grant will be due in November and depending on the cost of the project could be $200,000 or $300,000.
“This grant opportunity really kind of brings the partnership together and allows us to place some restrooms out there,” explained Crooks. “Also put some trail-head sine-age and then complete our outdoor learning space as well.”
Some of the trails will connect to neighboring Rubel Park which is still in the developing stages.
“We’ve got some sections of that park that will be more difficult than others,” said Superintendent of Parks Adam Grossman. “The trial sections toward Ivy Tech will be a little bit easier.”
According to Grossman the park will have ten miles of trail and room for hunting, “We’ll have bow only hunting, and permit draw for Vigo County residents.”
The parks department hopes to draw in more visitors at Rubel Park’s opening next June.
“We want more of that kind of Turkey Run sort of feel in Southern Vigo County,” explained Grossman. “People in southern Vigo County drive all the way to Turkey Run for that so we want that here.”
