July 17 Wabash Erie Canal Towpath Meeting Recap

Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Chapter
Allen County Fort Wayne Historical Society, 1:30 p.m. History Center
Hosted by Allen County Fort Wayne Historical Society, July 17, 2008
RECAP

1. OPENING REMARKS
Attending were: Jim DeVinney, Mark Dickmeyer, Roger Goodland, Dave Hacker, Jennifer Hotchkiss, Stanton Lambert, Dan McCain, Derek Reuter, Dawn Ritchie, Rory Robinson, Ivy Teders, Bob Schmidt, Carolyn Schmidt and Tom Castaldi.
Several of our group who usually meet with us experienced scheduling conflicts and could not be in attendance. Meeting was opened with a thank you by Tom Castaldi to the Allen County History Center for providing a meeting place and to Lisa Iversen who maintains our blog site.

2. MEMBERSHIP
Members were reminded that April is our anniversary month to renew our Banks of the Wabash (BOW) membership. A copy of the "Invitation to Join" can be found on the blogsite: wabasheriecanal.blogspot.com. Print out the handy "Membership Categories" section, complete the form, mention "Wabash & Erie Towpath" and place in an envelope with your check and mail to PO Box 1253 , Lafayette, Indiana 47902 today. Individual membership is $15.00.

3. MARKERS AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNS
Wabash County ’s Mike Beauchamp who could not attend the meeting due to another business commitment but sent a message asking for the status of the Directional Towpath Trail "Canal Boat" silhouette sign, that measures 18 " x 6". Wabash County is ready to mount directional signs. During the meeting, members adopted the new oval Towpath Logo that was designed by the City of Fort Wayne Public Works for use on the Towpath Trail in Allen County . Carroll County expressed an interest in obtaining decals of the oval logo to replace the current “canal boat” design on the Carroll County Towpath Trail. Note: the “Canal Boat Silhouette” term is changed to “Towpath Logo” sign.
Dawn Ritchie agreed to investigate the likelihood of Fort Wayne ’s Public Works supplying a quantity of the oval Towpath Logo signs. (Note: following the meeting, Dawn was asked to learn if Public Works could supply an 18” x 6” sign with the “Towpath” oval logo on the left side and a space for an arrowhead on the right.) Previously, Dawn advised the group that the artwork for the oval logo is available for use on signs, markers, brochures and those places a logo might be used to identify our effort.
Corridor Commissioner Hacker of Huntington County gave a review of the new Wabash River Heritage Corridor River Road markers being distributed by Ron James to Corridor counties. These measure 18" x 24" and introduce the Wabash River Heritage Corridor route and ideal for placing as near the Wabash River as possible. These markers will not necessarily be used on Federal or State highways. A space is provided to accommodate our blue and white 18” x 6” directional Towpath logo signs.
Yet to come is an 18” x 24” WRHC Trail marker intended for trail heads and along major roads to mark where the WRHC Trail crosses. Contact Ron (Email at execdir@wrhcc.in.gov) for details.
Another WRHC Community marker measuring 18” x 24” is designed for entrances of communities who wish to promote their relationship with the WRHC and also is available. Contact Ron for details.
Rory suggested that purchase of signs is an ideal project for raising funds for the project.
Derek asked for a recommendation for spacing between Towpath Logo directional signs. Dan replied that the larger WRHC signs will work well as an entry way with the Towpath Logo. Then a directional sign is needed for each turn right or left and spacing between seems to take care of itself. Long stretches might use a reminder, perhaps as important is obtaining county approval to post the signs. In Carroll County , permission was given to use county road sign posts and worked very well. Dan noted that in Carroll County has developed a “byway” for bikes and cars along appropriate roads, and a walking trail within the Wabash Erie Canal Park system.

4. TRAIL MANUAL
Rory Robinson reviewed the importance of the group producing a Workbook as a first step explaining the case for our mission to connect/mark a trial along the Wabash Erie Canal Towpath and Wabash River . It will provide and inventory of the corridor and what is to be done: 1) preparing a map of the route with urban areas no larger than 3 or 4 blocks while in rural areas increments of 3 to 4 miles should mark both the a Driving Trail and/or a Walking Trail; 2) providing information about land ownership; 3) making certain that the marked trail connects properly with obstacles and with adjoining map routes; 4) determining ownership issues; 5) investigating trail identity concerns; 6) marking accesses; 7) listing user facilities; 8) listing current partners as well as other pertinent action points. Such a manual is vital for grant writing and aiding community officials and the public to better understand the mission. Note: to begin moving the project forward, a ‘corridor,” for a driving/biking route has been written and available on the blog site.
A next step is to draft a questionnaire to be sent to key persons along the corridor. Rory will email a copy of the questionnaire that was used in the National Park Service’s, Towpaths-to-Trails publication that he prepared in 1995. A committee of Dawn Ritchie, Stanton Lambert, Dan McCain, Derek Reuter, Dan White agreed to provide feed-back for Rory’s review to create a final questionnaire for our purposes.
Meanwhile a second sub-committee will work on the names of contacts to send the questionnaire such as WRHC Commissioners, County Historians and selected persons along the corridor familiar with canal and river history. Bob and Carolyn Schmidt will be aided by Ron James and Tom Castaldi in the effort.

5. MEETINGS
Our next meeting will be in the Fall in Lafayette , Indiana . A date is being targeted for November. More information will follow.
2008 National Trails Symposium, Little Rock , Arkansas , November 15-18. Rory Robinson will be taking an active part in this conference. For information go to www.AmericanTrails.org/2008

6. MEETING ADJOURNED


Tom Castaldi
Wabash Erie Canal Trail Moderator