Connecting our community​: Huntington trails

The Huntington Area Trails and Recreation Association (HARTA) is raising funds to complete the boardwalk portion of a planned trails expansion, which will connect Huntington’s current trails together. According to HARTA, the Huntington’s trails are pretty awesome!

However, the trails aren’t connected throughout the community. Gaps in the trails system make it difficult for people to use them to travel from one area of Huntington to other areas. This project will tie the trails system together, so everyone can move from Huntington’s medical campus through historic downtown.

HARTA is working with a number of partners to make this vision a reality. The City of Huntington, Parkview Huntington Hospital, Parkview Huntington Family YMCA, Heritage Pointe, Crestview Middle School and Huntington University have all committed to partnering with them to provide land easements, fundraising assistance and support for this project, but something is missing – you. They need the communities’ help to make this happen.

The City of Huntington has made a huge contribution through design of the project, which will connect the Erie Rail Trail from Gragg Street to the Medical Campus on CR 500 N.

To qualify for a $50,000 matching grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s CreatINg Places Program to complete the boardwalk portion of the project, the group must raise $50,000 by July 30. With the communities support, they can make their vision of connected trails for the entire community a reality.

To date, the group has raised $33,275 towards their needed goal of $50,000. The group has received contributions of all sizes including a $10,000 award from Parkview’s Healing Partners program. They have also received personal contributions from individuals in the community.

Please consider making a contribution and also sharing this opportunity within your networks. Give online through the website here or by sending a check to HARTA at P.O. Box 5005, Huntington, Indiana 46750.