County parks board seeks planning commission endorsement for trails master plan; commission agrees to forward to commissioners

The Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board presented a trails master plan — a blueprint of proposed greenways and blueways intended to improve inter‑community connections — and asked the Planning Commission to endorse it as an amendment to the county comprehensive plan.

Aggie Sweeney and Troy Turley, members of the county parks board, summarized a year‑and‑a‑half planning effort that included consultant work, public meetings, steering‑committee input, and outreach to towns. They said the plan is intended to guide future trail investments and to position the county for grant funding; it does not appropriate funds or designate exact construction routes.

Planning staff noted the trails plan complements the 2022 county comprehensive plan and would serve as a more granular guide. Commissioners and members of the parks board discussed practical matters such as technical review, coordination with highway, drainage, emergency management and town planners, and how off‑road trails could link towns such as Leesburg, Milford and Syracuse.

A member of the commission moved that the Planning Commission support forwarding the trails master plan to the county commissioners for their consideration and potential adoption as an amendment to the comprehensive plan; the motion received a second and the commission agreed. Planning staff said they would coordinate scheduling with the county commissioners, who will take the next step.