The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the city of Bluffton celebrated the opening of the Interurban Trail extension and Lancaster Park.

The 1.06-mile asphalt multi-use trail was constructed by the city of Bluffton with help from a $404,035 Next Level Trails (NLT) grant. The award was announced by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb in April 2022 as part of the third grant round of NLT.

“The extension of the Interurban Trail and the construction of Bluffton’s new Lancaster Park provide more than just new green spaces for Hoosiers to get out and enjoy,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “Having connections and places like this to come together within a community help bring together and foster the kind of quality of life people crave. DNR is proud to support these important projects in Bluffton.”

The new trail extends the existing Interurban Trail north from its current terminus at Monroe Street. The extension follows State Road 1, ending south of Jackson Street. With completion of the newest extension, the total length of the Interurban Trail is now more than 3 miles, connecting the Wabash River to Lancaster Park.

The trail is a segment of the larger 81-mile Poka-Bache Trail project that will eventually connect Ouabache State Park to Pokagon State Park.

The newly developed Lancaster Park was constructed by the city of Bluffton & the Bluffton Park Board with help from a $608,270 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant. The award was made in 2022 as part of the annual LWCF competitive grant cycle. The grant assisted with building the new playground, select sport courts, a loop trail and trailhead, a pavilion and restrooms, site furnishings, and parking improvements.

“Today marks a significant milestone in Bluffton as we officially open the long-awaited Lancaster Park and Interurban trail,” said Brandy Fiechter, Bluffton Parks and Recreation superintendent. “The momentum and support for these projects soared in our community thanks to the Land Water Conservation Fund and Next Level Trails Initiative. Overall, $2,156,000 in value was added to our community as local donors joined in the excitement to invest in high-quality recreational facilities that will benefit Bluffton for years to come.

“We’re grateful to Governor Eric Holcomb for supporting our quality-of-life goals to connect the beautiful Wabash River to the newly developed Lancaster Park through the historic downtown. As we look to the future, we can be optimistic about the long-term benefits these projects will bring. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the stakeholders who made this possible.”

As part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Connections initiative, NLT is the largest infusion of trails funding in state history. The now $180 million program is administered by the DNR and facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. Thirty-seven of the 89 NLT projects are complete, totaling more than 103 miles of trail built since the program’s inception. Several projects are under construction, with many more slated to break ground during the next year.

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