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VERSION:2.0
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X-WR-CALNAME:Next Level Trails celebrates Marquette Greenway opening in Por
 tage
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Indiana (East)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260913T232857Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_43402065398473
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230607
DESCRIPTION: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.\n\nThe 0.94-mile asphalt multi-use trail was construc
 ted by the city\, with help from a $2\,549\,300 Next Level Trails (NLT) gr
 ant. The award was announced in March 2021 as part of the second grant rou
 nd of NLT. The project included a partnership with the National Parks Serv
 ice.\n\n“When the Next Level Trails program started\, Governor Holcomb s
 et the charge to connect communities through trails\,” said DNR Director
  Dan Bortner. “A project like this is a prime example of how important t
 hese connections are for Hoosiers and the vibrancy of our communities.”\
 n\nPortage’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 trai
 l 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 pro
 ject completed in June 2021.\n\n"It has taken 14 years to get to where we 
 are today. The city of Portage is thankful for the monetary support from N
 ext 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 t
 rail completed. This beautiful\, scenic section of the trail will be a war
 m welcome to bikers and walkers from all around the region."\n\nAs part of
  the governor’s Next Level Connections initiative\, NLT is the largest i
 nfusion of trails funding in state history. The now $180 million program i
 s administered by the DNR and facilitates critical trail connections withi
 n and between Hoosier communities. To date\, NLT has awarded $150 million 
 to 75 projects across the state.\n\nIn May\, Governor Eric J. Holcomb anno
 unced details for the fourth round of the NLT grant program\, which will d
 edicate an additional $30 million to connect communities through more hiki
 ng\, biking\, and riding trails across the state.\n\nThe 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 limite
 d to one application per round.\n\nIncluding the Marquette Greenway in Por
 tage\, 19 NLT projects are complete\, opening 59.38 miles of new trail to 
 the public. An additional 47 trail miles are under construction.\n\nMore i
 nformation about the NLT is at on.IN.gov/NextLevelTrails.\n\nTo view more 
 DNR news releases\, please see dnr.IN.gov.
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Next Level Trails celebrates Marquette Greenway opening in Portage
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.in.gov/event/next_level_trails_celebrates_marq
 uette_greenway_opening_in_portage
CATEGORIES:Press Releases
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