Evansville adopts regional trails plan into parks five‑year master plan

The Evansville Board of Parks Commission voted on March 5, 2025, to adopt a regional trails master plan into the department’s upcoming five‑year parks master plan, following a presentation by the Evansville Trails Coalition.

Laurie Van Hook of the Evansville Trails Coalition presented the plan and described it as a three‑year initiative produced with funding and technical support from local and statewide partners. “It didn’t cost the city a dime,” Van Hook said, noting that the plan is a $140,000 effort funded by the coalition, Welborn Baptist Foundation, Indiana Trails Community and the Greenways Foundation of Indiana.

Van Hook said the plan’s primary goal is to develop, design, fund and build a connected trail system that bridges existing gaps and connects neighborhoods and districts — citing a scope that includes the Riverfront, industrial corridor and Mid Levy Corridor and seeks to extend the greenway from the pump station to Stringtown. She said an official, technical plan will help the city and coalition apply for grants and identify private and philanthropic funding partners.

The board voted to adopt the plan so it can be synchronized with the city’s five‑year parks master plan update. Commissioners and staff praised the coalition’s process and engagement; the parks director noted the city had participated on the plan’s steering committee. The motion to adopt carried by voice vote.

Adoption means the plan will be treated as an official reference during the department’s master‑plan update and used to support future grant applications and design work as funding is identified.