Bridal Walk and Ride Walk to integrate with county parks board; CAP funding process simplified for small communities

Representatives of Ride Walk (Bridal Walk) and the Kosciusko County Parks Board discussed integrating the city-led Ride Walk group with countywide trail planning and a simplified application process for community amenity projects funded through the county’s orthopedic industry retention initiative (ORE) allocations.

Justin and Matt, representing Ride Walk and city trail interests, told the county board that Ride Walk has historically focused on Warsaw and Winona Lake but is seeking a countywide role. The group proposed a two-tier structure: (1) continued city-focused Ride Walk meetings that address local project minutiae and (2) quarterly countywide meetings that a county parks board representative could help set the agenda and lead. The city would continue to host and handle technical work while the county would help coordinate countywide priorities and funding opportunities. Justin said the idea would let local groups meet more often on focused items while preserving a countywide forum for larger, cross-jurisdiction projects.

The board discussed signs and wayfinding for the growing trail network. Members said there is value in using a common logo or shield-style marker at trailheads and including distance markers to downtown Warsaw; they also suggested QR codes linking to online maps as a low-cost, updateable option. The board discussed producing a single set of rules and design standards (for example, e-bike use and typical trail widths) so enforcement and design are consistent across the county.

Amy Rowe, who described her role as assisting communities with CAP (the Community Amenity Program), briefed the board on the CAP/ORE application process. She explained that a $30 million ORE appropriation included a $5 million allocation for CAP, managed through the K21 foundation and a CAP committee. The CAP committee recently revised the letter-of-intent (LOI) process to remove the financial-cost component so small communities and nonprofits can enter projects into the queue without incurring upfront engineering costs. Applicants must sign in with K21 and identify whether they are a nonprofit, school or government entity; nonprofits and school boards must provide a letter of support. Once an LOI is submitted, the CAP committee reviews it for alignment with program guidelines and may invite a full application.

The board also reviewed project updates: the Pearson connection is on the Parks Board’s radar but is effectively on hold pending further information and landowner coordination; the Syracuse–Wawasee trail group has advanced farther than North Webster and reportedly resolved an INDOT setback concern via a Level 2 design exception according to an email cited in the meeting; if that stands, Syracuse’s project may be a front-runner for CAP funding. Atwood representatives are preparing a letter of intent; because Atwood is an unincorporated area, the Atwood Community Building nonprofit is acting as the applicant on behalf of the local area.

Board members agreed to try a quarterly countywide meeting schedule and to keep the Ride Walk city meetings focused on their local projects. Amy said she will share her spreadsheet of prospective projects and continue to act as a project navigator to help communities prepare LOIs and applications for CAP funds.