Greensburg, Ind. — Today, the City of Greensburg, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and community stakeholders, officially broke ground on the expansion of Greensburg’s trail network. This new addition will establish a vital trailhead in Rebekah Park, connecting the existing Eastside Trail and Greensburg Community Schools Trail to Main Street.
The project, made possible in part by a $417,818 grant from Next Level Trails (NLT), represents a total investment of $596,918 into Greensburg’s growing trail system. This expansion will extend the existing Rebekah Trail 0.25 miles west and south, linking key community assets such as Pirate Park, the Decatur County Public Library, and the planned Main Street Trail leading to downtown Greensburg.
“We strongly believe in the importance of investing in our communities, and this project is a testament to that commitment,” said Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh. “Trails create opportunities to connect residents and visitors to natural spaces, local amenities, and economic growth. Expanding our trail system now lays the groundwork for seamlessly integrating with the upcoming Main Street pedestrian infrastructure, supported by the Indiana Department of Transportation during the Main Street reconstruction. This investment not only enhances accessibility but also improves the overall quality of life in Greensburg.”
The new trail will be multi-use, 12 feet wide, and ADA-accessible, ensuring safe and convenient passage for walkers, runners, and cyclists. The expansion will improve connectivity between residential neighborhoods, schools, athletic fields, public library, and Rebekah Park’s many amenities—such as the Inclusion Park, Splash Pad, pickleball courts, amphitheater, and bark park. “Trails are an important link connecting us to the outdoors and to our communities,” said Dale Brier, Indiana State Parks deputy director of community grants and trails. “Indiana leads the Midwest in the economic impact driven by outdoor recreation, and we’re excited to see the impact of this trail extension in Greensburg.”
“This expansion is a crucial step toward building a city-wide trail network that safely connects our community,” said Tami Wenning, Decatur County Community Foundation Executive Director. “With the support of the Next Level Trails program, we are making our vision of a comprehensive trail system a reality.”
Description of local project and map can be found at https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/recreation/grants/next-level-trails/awards-and-news/next-level-trails-round-4-awards/#City_of_Greensburg.
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Group Photo of Groundbreaking
(L-R) Tami Wenning, Decatur County Community Foundation Executive Director; Teresa Kovachich, Decatur County Parks Department Director; Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh; Dale Brier, Indiana State Parks Deputy Director; Brian Wenning, Decatur County Commissioner; Zach Wirrig, City of Greensburg Public Projects Director.
About Next Level Trails
NLT is part of former Gov. Holcomb's $1 billion Next Level Connections infrastructure program, which accelerates the completion of major highway projects, expands access to rural broadband services, and pursues the expansion of rail projects in northwest Indiana. The initial program received funds totaling $90 million; $60 million more was appropriated in the 2021 biennial budget. An additional $30 million in the most recent budget brought the NLT investment to $180 million.
NLT has awarded grants to 89 different projects across the state. Of the now 89 projects, 32 are complete, adding more than 97 miles of new trail for Hoosiers to access.
Progress on all NLT projects can be found here.
NLT objectives and more information on the grants program is at on.IN.gov/nextleveltrails.
