Paddle Fest Deadline Today!!!

Whoa! Time creeps by so QUICKLY! Today, 8/16, registration, with a
complimentary T-shirt, ENDS at 4:30.  We can still see you in New Harmony
on Saturday BUT you're on your own for the 'must have' accessory of the
Wabash River season.

Call: 800-467-8600 or 812-464-1989, but wait till  I get off the phone -
I don't want to get a busy signal...  Meanwhile,  see you tomorrow at the
State Fair (just east of the Home & Family  Arts Building) for VISIT INDIANA
(the River State!) DAY.

Ron James, Executive Director
Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission
102 North  Third Street, Suite 302
Lafayette IN 47901
765-427-1505

Wabash River Art Collection Sale

RIVER ODYSSEY: TWO ARTISTS FOLLOW THE WABASH - has
reached the river mouth! Buy it NOW before it
disperses into the waters of the world.

Special Preview & Award Ceremony - August 23, 6:30-8pm

David Dale and Jim Faulkner will be presented with
a "River Reward" From "Banks of the Wabash"
presented by Ron James, Executive Director of the
Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission at 7pm

(RSVP required for this event, call 317-844-7253)

Public Preview - Friday, August 24, 1-8pm

View the collection of ninety paintings to be sold
the following day at Public Auction! The artists
will be present from 1-6pm

Auction of River Odyssey Collection
Saturday, August 25, 1pm

We are honored to represent artists David Dale
and Jim Faulkner as they complete their "River
Odyssey" journey by offering their amazing
collection at public auction. Representative
paintings from this important collection have
been exhibited at the Indiana State Museum,
the New Harmony Hoosier Salon Fine Arts Gallery,
the Knox County Public Library, Logansport Art
Association, the West Lafayette Public Library,
Wabash County Historical Museum, Richmond Art
Museum, and the Minnetrista Cultural Center.
Now, they are available for purchase at this
noteworthy auction event.

12232 Hancock Street, Carmel, IN 46032
[Take W. Carmel Drive east off US 31, cross
Pennsylvania and Old Meridian St, to Hancock,
which runs south between W. Carmel Dr. and
W. 122nd St.]  There will be signs posted &
visible by the time you reach the Old Meridian
and W. Carmel drive intersection.

317-844-7253

Preview the entire collection at:
www.wickliffauctioneers.com
Members IAA, NAA, CAI

Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Plan

Backgrounder

A Wabash & Erie Canal Corridor following the nineteenth century towpath that became the second longest canal in the world and hailed as an engineering wonder of its day, has strong name-value and historical appeal. By enhancing recreational and economic opportunities through a corridor, we interlace and celebrate its legacy shared by the communities that benefited from its infusion of people and prosperity.

1. There are many Trails being developed in the Midwest, and the interest in it is high with many people hoping to:

a. keep in shape physically and search for a different venue other than the local gym;

b. love the out-of-doors;

c. conserve of the environment;

d. learn more about the history that took place where they live;

e. encourage the attitude, spirit and willingness of people to engage together for the benefit of their shared community.

2. A Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, in addition to offering health and recreation, will celebrate local history. Just as important, these byways offer economic development opportunities; tourist who seek restaurants, lodging, or tours; as well as business attractions to managers looking for quality of life benefits when locating or expanding their operations.
3. Now is the time to begin working together to leave a great legacy to generations that will follow us.

4. We sit on a gold mine of history that was the Wabash & Erie Canal route and provides many colorful stories during a time it made enormous contributions to the development of Indiana – and the western U.S. It should not be ignored left to a continual blind development overrun and destroyed from memory.

5. We fully respect the diverse character of the land traversed by the current Towpath, and we intend to work with property owners to establish a trail alignment that best suits all parties.

6. It is encouraging to observe the many counties on or contiguous to the old Wabash & Erie Canal route that have produced or are planning a bike/hike/drive byway…

a. Ohio is making progress from Toledo to meet with Fort Wayne along a continuous Maumee River Valley byway…

b. Trail work has been completed in Allen County with Fort Wayne’s initial mile in place and continuing construction planned for 2008-09.

b. Individual trail work that has been completed in so many counties already…Salamonie, Mississinewa, Little Turtle etc.

Has its time arrived?

a. To encourage the idea of a trail that would link each county with a marked route that celebrates why in fact we are connected together; what that link means to the enhancement of our towns; and how we each can work together to study if this idea should become a reality?

b. For a route that hikers/joggers can enjoy, that bikers can challenge over long distances, that in a car could approximate the old canal route over its 468 mile length…not to mention the other national trails it may intersect [North Country National Scenic Tail, Potawatomi Trail of Death or the several Indiana Trials proposals] offering new directions to any one who would take the challenge.

Indiana counties between Allen and Tippecanoe are discussing the project and all of those communities that extend to Evansville and to Toledo are invited to join.

Situation Analysis

In November 2006 a group of twenty persons representing communities from Lafayette to Lake Erie met to discuss the likelihood of a Wabash & Erie Canal Corridor to encompass hike/bike/drive byway.

At the November 2006 meeting, a consensus of those attending agreed that the time had arrived to recall the historic Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath’s positive legacy that brought prosperity to Indiana and points both east and west. Among these attributes are:

Building the path west for the earliest families; unleashing an agriculture breadbasket to the world; expanding markets for commercial enterprises; and tracking a pattern for our railroads and highways in use today.

Focusing on the corridor offers encouragement to communities - many of which the canal spawned - to connect their existing trails; assist in networking together to examine how they might be linked to enhance healthful recreation, encourage economic development interpret our rich canal transportation heritage.

Enhancing community pride within the cities, towns and between neighboring populations stemming from celebrating our common history and demonstrating to the nation how people of all backgrounds come together here at this time and place to achieve an improved quality of life.

At the March 21, 2007, meeting a resolution was passed authorizing the Forum to join the Banks of the Wabash.

Resolve That, the Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Forum become a non-profit chapter member of the Banks of the Wabash, Inc., with the intentions of fostering the mission of establishing a recreational, economical developmental and historical pathway and for those other purposes that are to the mutual advantage of our organizations.

During the April 2007 meeting it was agreed by consensus that the group would be a chapter of the Banks of the Wabash, Inc. (BOW) with the ‘working’ name of “The Wabash Erie Canal Towpath Trail Chapter.”

Vision

Embrace interconnecting those already established county and community trails that revitalizes a transportation system virtually tracing the historic Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath for a bike/hike/drive route using trail logo markers, informational and directional signs, printed and/or digital information, for health, recreational, economic development and historical interpretation.

Things to do...

Don't forget MORE big river events this summer.

Riverfest July 7th

& Paddlefest August 18

Riverfest, July 7 in West Lafayette and Paddlefest, August 18 in New Harmony - - both featuring canoes & racing -- come to mind.
Indeed, voyaguer-style canoes with crews of 10 +/- will race short distances at W. Lafe, while in N Harmony, a trained crew from SW Indiana will race a similarly prepared team from SE Illinois the entire 9+ miles!

Next year: Points racing on the Wabash?

Have a great summer.

Ron James, Executive Director
Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission
102 North Third Street, Suite 302
Lafayette IN 47901
765-427-1505

May 8 Meeting Recap: Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Chapter

Honeywell Center – Wabash, Indiana

Hosted by: Charlie Creek Foundation

Opening Remarks
Meeting was opened with Tom Castaldi thanking Beth Stein of Charlie Creek Foundation for their support and for her help scheduling our meeting; for Lisa Iversen who maintains our blog site. Tom then reminded those present that all members of our Chapter consider sending their individual membership application and dues to Banks of the Wabash. For every 25 memberships, we earn a seat on the board to represent our Chapter.

Our interest is in connecting communities, who have established or have planned trails, with the Wabash Erie Canal Towpath Trail to provide extended recreation, economic development while focusing on the heritage of the longest canal in the western hemisphere. To assist planners in locating connection routes, a driving tour is real and has been posted on our web site/blog titled, Yes Ginny there is a Wabash & Erie Canal Trail - Motor Tour the Wabash Erie Canal Trail - Ready to Run Biking and Hiking Trails Could Follow. Currently, the posting describes a route that extends between Indiana-Ohio State line and Fountain County with plans to expand both southwestward and northeastward.

“Towpath Trail” signage format now use in the north central portion of the Wabash River valley, serves as a model of a directional marker ready for use. It features a canal boat branding image with the words “Towpath Trail” and might be put in place along roads in proximity to the historic canal route. As an added quality of life feature, these small markers can be functional in leading trail users to historic markers or extant structures along the route.

Our guest presenter for the May 8th meeting is Rory Robinson, Outdoor Recreation Planner, National Park Services Rivers & Trails Program for direction.

GENERAL DISCUSSION
A discussion about the size and appearance of markers and directional signs concluded with Ron James recording parameters for obtaining quotes. He is proceeding with a marker sign measuring 18” wide and 24” high with the colorful Wabash River Heritage Corridor image in the upper portion, and in the space across the bottom a blue canal logo, the text “Towpath Trail” and a directional arrow measuring 6” inches in height.

Rory Robinson opened his remarks complimenting the group saying it has a good idea with a lot of experience within the group. He said that citizen advocates and non profits seem to get positive action. We have to do take our “fun” to “work” and we must continue to bring others into the project to keep our good idea strong.

First of among his recommendations

1) Obtain a 501(c) 3 status. Rory felt that was already accomplished by our having become a chapter of the Banks of the Wabash, however, we must sell local governments buy putting forth the idea.

2) Create a Vision to show what the big idea is all about. It could be published and made available using a four page, 11” x 17” folder with graphs, visionary maps and a list of who is involved. It should be easy and inviting to read without getting into specific details. Highlight the benefits that come with Trails: economic development, health and recreational advantages. Our Vision brochure should stress how trails help to create a sense of place that discovers a community’s heritage. Trails are healthy –U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have found that obesity is an epidemic brought on by a lack of exercise and choice of diet.

3) Publish a Workbook. A “workbook” used by the Delaware and Licking Canal Trail - a part of the National Heritage Corridor – was passed among the attendees. As a workbook it became a tool for successfully addressing their project. It includes individual pages describing specific sections of the Trail with maps, accesses and an explanation of current situation. A statement of “operations and management” followed explaining who will do the work and what partnerships might be created to achieve success. Rory gave the document to Ron James saying that WRHHC could recommend the help of the commissioners to gather the data for such a workbook on a county by county basis.

4) Don’t wait for the State…get busy. Our Towpath Trail overlaps with Green Moves. Rory suggests we get basic information to Ray Irwin using his basic spread sheets. Endeavor to get portions of the Trail done on a local level. The Indiana Trails initiative is supposed to build it, but we can take on the challenge and begin building it and getting grants. There is no money for funding beyond that which is already out there. The State likes Green Moves measures to connect the State, but it must show benefits to local communities. Fortunately, people such as realty groups want these infrastructure improvements Greenways provide that they say their prospective clients seek.


ACTION PLAN
1) Develop a Vision Statement that can be placed on our website/blog as a PDF. Rory offered to help develop. Tom agreed to prepare a first draft for Rory’s revisions, comments and finalization.

SOME COMMENTARY:

Dan McCain: We’d like to link trails in the next 20 years. But to reach across the State may take a lifetime. Long term keep the Vision ideal but understand that it will take years. Short Term, get the Trail marked.
Mike Beauchamp: I’ve followed the Towpath and we have a long County Trail identified. I’d say we could have it marked by the summer of 2008.
Dan McCain: If you’ve identified a road that needs help, Ray Irwin will tell you that it could be high on the list. We’re ready for a date set, and want to identify the ones he has listed.
Mike Beauchamp: We did identify some routes but they are contradictive with the Indiana Trail plan. Some assets are important to the state but have no connection with the canal and have not yet been resolved.
Dan McCain: In western Indiana they have missed the canal altogether because no big towns are located over there.
Rory: The State is looking for different perspectives, and an opportunity to get it completed. You’ll see the Towpath built first if you continue to advocate for it. You’ll really get it built if you find a private funder. You’ll get it built faster and cheaper without regulation and delays. What you really must engage the local government and get the city engineer on your side because he’s the one who knows the lingo and how to get things done.
Donn: It takes political savvy person to help push this sort of idea through. One who speaks the legislative language because politicians are behind the people on this issue.
Rory: We do need a champion.

2) Tom will prepare a Vision Statement draft and forward it to Rory for his comments.

3) Ron will work with his WRHC Commission members using the Delaware and Licking Canal Trail work book as a model for our Towpath Trail


NEXT MEETING:
To be announced.

Next Canal Corridor Meeting May 8th, 1pm at Honeywell Center

We want you with us on May 8th.

Join us with Rory Robinson, Indiana Projects Manger, of the National Park Services' Rivers,Trails and Conservation Assistance, as we discuss the opportunities for a Wabash Erie Canal Towpath Trail during our Forum scheduled for May 8, 2007, at 1:00 p.m in the Wabash, Indiana, Honeywell Center.

We'll be discussing actions we should be considering to realize our vision of connecting existing community hike / bike / motoring pathways along the historic Wabash Erie Canal Towpath. Please plan to join us, show your support, and share your ideas.

April 12 Minutes of Wabash Erie Canal Towpath Trail Forum

Wabash Erie Canal Towpath Trail Forum Meeting Minutes

Towpath Trail Chapter, Banks of the Wabash, Inc.

Meeting April 12, 2007 , 10:00 a.m. , Delphi Canal Center , Carroll County , IN

Attending: Dan McCain, representing the Canal Interpretive Center , from Carroll County , mccain@carlnet.org

Bob Schmidt & Carolyn Schmidt, representing the Canal Society of Indiana, from Allen County , INDCANAL@aol.com Jim Hollar & Ann Hollar, representing the Forks of the Wabash, Inc. from Huntington County , jrhollar@sbcglobal.net & achollar@sbcglobal.net Stanton Lambert , representing the Wabash River Enhancement Corp., from Warren, Fountain, Tippecanoe & Carroll Counties, slambert@lafayette.IN.gov

Ron James, Exec. Director of the Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission, representing the 19 county Wabash River corridor, Execdir@wrhcc.IN.gov Tom Castaldi was unable to attend due to illness but sent an agenda and some thoughts for discussion.

An opening statement was made by Dan McCain.

The need for continued pressure, from a unified corridor, concerning the Corridor Fund, trail placement, signage cooperation, etc., on the legislative and the executive branches, was noted.

A discussion was had upon the parameters of signage for marking the roadways closest to the river and/or the canal. Three types of signage [1)the canal boat silhouette used in the central Wabash area; 2) the ‘brand’ sign for the “River Road” program of the Corridor Commission; and 3) the as yet to be chosen sign under consideration by the towpath group in Allen County] were discussed as were their best uses. No decision as to uniform signage was made.

It was agreed by consensus that the group would be a chapter of the Banks of the Wabash, Inc. (BOW) with the ‘working’ name of “The Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Chapter.” It was further agreed that the current moderator of the group, Tom Castaldi, who has an eddress list of all prior attendees, should be asked to send a directive to prospective members to the effect: “We are a chapter of…”, include the membership information for BOW, and request everyone to apply & pay their BOW dues. Ron James is to send the electronic BOW brochure to Tom Castaldi for this purpose.

An agreeable name should be on the agenda for the charette proposed for the next meeting. Dates suggested included May 8, at 1:00 p.m. at the Honeywell Center in Wabash, but a final decision was agreeably left to depend on attendance by Rory Robinson (NPS) to facilitate or, if his attendance cannot be arranged soon, at the call of Tom Castaldi.

Some issues of local concern were further discussed with no action by the group proposed.

Adjourned 11:45 a.m.