The Indiana DNR, Next Level Trails (NLT) and the City of Greenfield celebrated the opening of the Franklin Street and Brandywine Connector trails with a joint ribbon cutting this morning. The Franklin Street Trail is a 1.4-mile asphalt multi-use trail that was constructed by the city with the help of a $699,200 NLT grant. The award was announced by Gov. Eric J.  Holcomb in May 2019 as part of the first round of NLT.

“Trails are one of the most desirable amenities for residents,” said DNR director Dan Bortner. “The DNR is glad to see cities like Greenfield take advantage of our grant programs like the popular Next Level Trails to make important connections within their community and improve the quality of life.”

The Franklin Street Trail project extends and closes gaps in the Greenfield Greenway system on the city’s northwest side along Franklin Street and New Road. The trail connects Beckenholdt Park, Hancock Regional Wellness Center, Mary Moore Park, Hancock County Public Library, and Greenfield Central Junior High and High School, as well as several residential neighborhoods and major employers. These connections provide safer mobility for city residents, including some of its youngest.

“The Franklin Street Trail extension project is a critical connector project,” said Greenfield Parks director Ellen Kuker. “Without the Next Level Trails grant program, this major connector trail would not have been possible.”

As part of the governor’s Next Level Connections initiative, NLT is the largest infusion of trails funding in state history. The $150 million program is administered by the DNR and facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. Including the Franklin Street Trail, 13 of the 73 NLT projects are complete, totaling more than 40 miles of trail.

More information about NLT is at on.IN.gov/NextLevelTrails.

The new 1.1-mile Brandywine Connector Trail runs along scenic Brandywine Creek on the city’s southeast side, connecting Brandywine Park to the Pennsy Greenway. The project was partially funded by a $200,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant awarded in 2019.

The LWCF is a federal National Parks Service program administered at the state level by the Indiana DNR Division of State Parks. The program provides 50% reimbursement grants to assist park and recreation boards in acquiring and developing outdoor recreation areas for public use. To date, more than $50 million has been provided to local agencies through the program. More information about LWCF is at dnr.IN.gov/state-parks/recreation/grants/land-and-water-conservation-fund

To view more DNR news releases, see dnr.IN.gov.