Allen County accepts quitclaim deed and agrees to DNR trail restrictions for Horse Trails project

Allen County commissioners on Jan. 17 accepted a quitclaim deed that implements a restrictive covenant tied to a state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant for a horse trails project.

County staff told the commissioners the horse trail work sits on a roughly 200-acre parcel that includes other county uses; the DNR grant (about $250,000, as described in the meeting) required the county to record a restriction ensuring the trails remain in place rather than allowing the county to remove them in the near term. The recorded restriction commits the county to maintain a minimum of five miles of trail, provide a three-acre trailhead and preserve at least 23 obstacles designed for horses, and to protect those trail elements for no less than 25 years.

Staff said DNR reviewed the deed and accepted limiting the restriction to the trail area rather than restricting the entire parcel; other facilities on the parcel — the canine facility in the southwest corner and the sheriff's shooting range in the northeast corner — are not affected. Staff also said the quitclaim deed is the final step to close out the grant and that most financial draws were already completed.

A motion to accept the quitclaim deed was made and seconded and carried by voice vote. Commissioners confirmed the 23 obstacles figure is a minimum and that the county's grant application apparently listed at least that number. Staff said the deed recording allows the county to finalize grant closeout with the DNR.