The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the city of Portage today announced the opening of a newly completed segment of the Marquette Greenway.

The 0.94-mile asphalt multi-use trail was constructed by the city, with help from a $2,549,300 Next Level Trails (NLT) grant. The award was announced in March 2021 as part of the second grant round of NLT. The project included a partnership with the National Parks Service.

“When the Next Level Trails program started, Governor Holcomb set the charge to connect communities through trails,” said DNR Director Dan Bortner. “A project like this is a prime example of how important these connections are for Hoosiers and the vibrancy of our communities.”

Portage’s project closes a major gap in the Marquette Greenway system, a planned 50-mile multi-state trail intended to connect Chicago to New Buffalo, Michigan. Starting at the Ameriplex Business Park, the new trail travels east through Indiana Dunes National Park, over Salt Creek, and connects to the Burns Harbor section of the greenway, a 1.5-mile NLT project completed in June 2021.

"It has taken 14 years to get to where we are today. The city of Portage is thankful for the monetary support from Next Level Trails, and to all those who helped move this project forward," said Portage Mayor Sue Lynch. "While our portion of this latest section of the trail was short in distance and costly, the pedestrian bridge over Salt Creek was a monumental step forward in getting this section of the trail completed. This beautiful, scenic section of the trail will be a warm welcome to bikers and walkers from all around the region."

As part of the governor’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. To date, NLT has awarded $150 million to 75 projects across the state.

In May, Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced details for the fourth round of the NLT grant program, which will dedicate an additional $30 million to connect communities through more hiking, biking, and riding trails across the state.

The fourth round will award up to $22.5 million to regional projects and up to $7.5 million to local projects. The application period for the fourth round begins July 1 and ends Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. CT. Eligible applicants include units of government or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Applicants are limited to one application per round.

Including the Marquette Greenway in Portage, 19 NLT projects are complete, opening 59.38 miles of new trail to the public. An additional 47 trail miles are under construction.

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

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