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Ribbon cut for Panhandle Pathway, Nickel Plate signed connector route

Last Updated on August 16, 2020 by Office of Logansport Mayor Chris Martin

SOURC: News release from Office of Logansport Mayor Chris Martin

“Someday there will be a non-motorized recreational trail connecting our two trails (Panhandle and Nickel Plate) through Logansport. For now we have this on-road connector route.” John Bawcum from Friends of the Panhandle said during Thursdays ribbon cutting.

Work on the signed connector route started over three years ago when Mike Kuepper from the Nickel Plate and John Bawcum from the Panhandle approach Cass County to help put together a Regional Trail Committee to make this signed connection a priority.

Over the years the Regional Trail Committee grew to incorporate many City and County Government Departments as well as organizations and volunteers to create the29 mile on-road and signed Connector Route between the south end Panhandle trailhead at Kenneth and the Nickel Platetrail head just south of the big blue Wabash River Bridge in Peru, IN.

The signed route passes through downtown Logansport, Huston Park, Sim’sConnector Trail, River Bluff Trail, and Little Turtle Trail. None of this would have been possible without the collaboration efforts of INDOT, the Cass County Commissioners, Cass County Highway Department, the City of Logansport, the Street Department, Logansport’s Parks Department, Cass County Hospital Foundation, Cass County Community Foundation, Cass County Visitor’s Bureau, Miami Tourism Bureau, and our volunteer trail advocates.

Ralph Anderson, Cass County Commissioner President, refers to how amazing it has been over the last two decades to see pedestrian and bicycle pathways opening up across the nation. Mr. Anderson stated that “on August 3,2018 Aaron Anderson (his son) began a 2,500 mile bicycle journey across this nation to Santa Monica CA, the end of Route 66, then up to Santa Barbara. Today August 13, he (Aaron) would have been passing through Springfield MO.” Aaron started his journey in Logansport a little over two years ago where we are today near the Logan’s Landing Depot.

With this new connection,visitors and residents alike have access to the 44 miles Nickel Plate Trail from Rochester to Kokomo as well as the 21 mile Panhandle Pathway from Winamac to Kenneth.

Arin Shaver, Planning Director for Logansport and Cass County, stated that since the completion of the signed connector route last month there have been two bicyclist groups, that we know of, that have used this connection to pass through Indiana from Ohio to Illinois. Some businesses have seen the health and economic benefits of trails and connector routes referencing that more and more people are out riding and stopping by local business during and after their ride.

The Logansport Mayor Chris Martin stated that “this is just another way to improve our community and show what working together can do! Logansport continues to move forward because of those who care.”

Cass County Online