A boat unloads passengers at the home of Marianne and Randall Tobias during the first Wawasee Home Tour, held July 26. The event was sponsored by the Wawasee Property Owners Association and more than 250 people participated.

Those on the tour toured six homes on Wawasee’s North Shore traveling from house to house on 23 pontoon boats.

Proceeds from the event were donated to the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Project.

Well over 100 people filled Celebration Hall in the Syracuse Community Center Wednesday night, July 9. Spike Ford, president of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Project, gave a brief history of the project before turning the meeting over to David Brandes, segment manager for SR 13.

Brandes explained the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss trails in general, but specifically the SR 13 segment, which would take the trail south and east along SR 13 from Harkless Drive to Wawasee Middle School. Discussion Wednesday night was focused on a portion of the segment, from Harkless Drive to Waco Drive, by the Sleepy Owl restaurant.

Ford explained how the trail committee works with members becoming segment managers responsible for overseeing the work on one portion of the trail.

He said the trail committee is applying for a Transportation Enhancement Grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Syracuse and approximately 100 other communities are vying for the same grant money.

Brandes stated the TE funds will go to a public agency, in this case the county commissioners, who will accept the grant and use the funds to pay for the trail work. The committee is applying for $1 million which the community would need to raise approximately $200,000 in matching funds.

If the grant is awarded to Syracuse it would be 18 to 24 months before construction would start due to design and engineering work. Putting trail down is unbelievably expensive, Brandes said.

David Armstrong from INDOT attended the meeting.

The dream is children could go to the middle school on their bike safely or people on the south side could come into town on their bike, Brandes said.

The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation purchased the Dunithan property and the WACF board has agreed to meet with the trail committee, looking at ways the trail could come off the highway. In some areas we will need a board walk to cross wet lands. About nine-tenths will be on WACF property, Brandes explained.

Brandes, who has been very involved in WACF, explained he has stepped down as chairman and that Ford met with the WACF board. He had no part in the discussions.

Brandes told the crowd the committee hopes to receive more grants in the future. The Ruth Lily Grant is not set for SR 13 segment.

Questions from the audience included how wide the trail will be? The trails will range from 8 feet to 12 feet wide.

Someone asked if the Syracuse community was competing against Fort Wayne for grant money. The answer was no, Syracuse is competing with communities of a similar size.

Another person asked how will the trail be maintained. Ford explained once trail is put down, it becomes the countys liability since most of it is in the county. The least expensive way to maintain the trails may be through an adopt-a-trail program.

As far as keeping the trails in good repair, the committee hasnt worked that far ahead yet.

The interesting thing about trails, people like yourself who use trails take care of them, Ford said. People are respectful of them. As for landscaping, the commitee will seek out donations for landscaping, benches and lights.

One person in the audience asked about an endowment. Ford said the committee was spending the money it received as soon as it was getting it to put trail down, but an endowment was a possibility.

Dave Lichtenauer explained the Syracuse Park Foundation, which raises money for the parks, started the trail committee. His hope is to have a Turkey Creek Township Park District that would take care of a trail endowment. Seventy percent of the people who use the parks are from the township and they contribute nothing through their taxes (to the parks), he said.

Ford also put out a call for volunteers to get involved in the project and explained how area neighborhood associations and different organizations were partnering with the trail committee.

The SR 13 segment was explained. A crosswalk parallel to SR 13 will travel through residential areas, creating a design challenge. A guard rail may need to be installed and the trail squeezed behind it. A 10-foot wide boardwalk will go through the wet land area and there will be a 12-foot trail behind the telephone poles along WACF land.

It was explained since the TE grant is federal dollars, the trail must meet federal standards which is a 12-foot wide trail is desirable while 10 feet is minimum. Someone asked if that was the case, why were some trail segments 8 feet wide. Brandes explained those segments are not near segments INDOT could potentially fund.

Another audience member suggested getting off SR 13. Brandes said the committee was going to try, but still had to abide by INDOT specifications if the grant was awarded.

The whole purpose of the trail system is not to be in a cocoon. The government wants everyone within 15 minutes of a trail and connectivity . . . You have to have a place to go, especially with INDOT funds, Ford explained.

Another question was if the trail along SR 13 was in the state right of way what was the risk of losing the trail in the future to highway widening.

Armstrong said he couldn't promise that wouldn't happen, but said some trails are being added to highway bridges. Another person said some states require trails alongside new highway.

Syracuse will be honored with the presence of a well-known group of Indiana artists this weekend, July 12 and July 13. Indiana Plein Air Painters will have an art show from 1 p.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, July 13, at the South Shore Golf Club pavilion to which the public is invited to attend.

The words “plein air” literally mean open air in French and refers to painting outside in various media to represent observed effects of outdoor light and atmosphere. The impressionists introduced the concept to the art world.

Indiana Plein Air Painters are having a Lake Wawasee Paintout hosted by summer lake residents George and Peggy Rapp. The beautiful lake views, surrounding countryside, nearness to the Amish, quaint uptown area and the old train depot factored in the decision for artists from all across the state to return for their second visit, according to state treasurer Virginia Kramer. The first was in 2006.

It is anticipated that if some of the artists ask to paint on property around the lakes, in town or in the country, they would be welcomed to do so. Other activities for the participants include a cruise on the S.S. Lily Pad II and viewing the Flotilla.
Several paintouts are held annually. So far this year, the Indiana Plein Air Painters have been to New Harmony and Crawfordsville. Still on the agenda are French Lick and Brookville. In past years, Brown County has also been a favorite spot.

The organization is 10 years old and is dedicated to the education of Indiana plein air painters and their supporters as well as the reawakening of an appreciation for Indiana landscape painting based on its rich history. Members, whether painters or not, are welcomed. Visit their Web site www.inpainters.org.

A new brochure highlighting the Syracuse Trail system is done and trail committee members discussed how to get it into peoples hands during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday night.

Display boxes featuring the brochures will be put up around town, but discussion focused on ways to get it to individuals while keeping costs down. Committee president Spike Ford asked if the brochure could be inserted into the Wawasee Property Owners Associations newsletter. Dave Brandes, weighing a brochure in his hand, said he wasnt sure.

John Gemmer, former publisher of The Goshen News and a lake resident, attended. He pointed out if the committee does a mailing, a cover letter explaining the project would have to be included.

Ford said committee members Mike and Sandra Buhrt have been pushing for a mass mailing. He has been holding off on doing that since the community has been very supportive without a specified fundraising campaign.

The committee is currently working on a feasibility study of the SR 13 segment for a possible grant. If that grant is awarded, the committee will need to raise $200,000 in matching funds.

Currently, the committee is within $900 of the needed matching funds for a Lily grant. Over $57,000 has been raised since late November. The committee needs over $58,000 to earn the match.

Brandes pointed out there is lots of trail on the ground, scattered throughout the community and the committee is focusing on connecting them. As an example, Brandes pointed out someone on North Shore Drive could ride his bike through downtown Syracuse, up to Wawasee High School and down Pickwick Drive. A bridge is still needed at McConnell Ditch. Once that is installed, a bike rider could go down Pickwick and into the Village in relative safety.

Gemmer asked if the committee wanted the trail to be a destination or for the community. Ford said there had been lots of discussion about that. Committee member Max Laudeman said the route around the lake is very attractive. Brandes agreed, but pointed out land is expensive and almost impossible to acquire. As far as connecting with other communities, Brandes said Milford has expressed interest in connecting with Syracuse which would lead to a connection to Warsaw.

Gemmer asked if there was any opposition to the trail project. Committee members told him not much.

Gemmer asked if there was government support for the project. Brandes explained the Town of Syracuse has been installing sidewalks which can be used tor trail, but its funds were limited.

Gemmer asked about support from county government. Ford explained if the grant for the SR 13 segment is awarded, the county will handle the funds. The Kosciusko County Community Foundation and the K21 Foundation have both been supportive, raising $500,000 to $600,000 along with local benefactors.

Gemmer suggested getting pledges from residents in the area for long-term fundraising. Ford pointed out there has been some opposition as those with money for the project are supportive except they dont want it in their neighborhood.

Brandes explained the SR 13 segment will be highly visible and will cost about $1 million. "A fundraising drive will come into play if the grant is not awarded. If we get this done, the perspective of how the community sees it will drastically change," Brandes said.

In committee reports, Ford announced the Wawasee home tour is set for July 16. Tickets are $35 a person and the event is sponsored by the WPOA. The homes on the tour will be on the north side of Wawasee.

In segment reports, Laudeman reported he has spoken to some residents on North Shore and East Shore about putting in trail. One resident has requested engineering information.

SR 13 segment, Brandes is still working on the INDOT grant. Letters of support have been coming in. The deadline for sending a letter of support is July 15. Letters should be addressed to Ford and sent care of the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department.

EarthSource, the consultant working with the committee, is working on a feasibility study. Brandes, Ford and Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, have met with Dave Armstrong, the northeast regional manager for INDOT, about the project. He was very supportive.

Final design and cost estimates on the Pickwick Drive segment are due July 3. Ford highlighted some of the aspects of the segment that still need to be ironed out.

Niblock will continue paving a 6-foot trail down in front of Wawasee Boat Co. Cost is not to exceed $60,000. The committee will not be able to continue forward since there is still a flooding problem at Pleasant Groves. The county engineer hasnt come up with a plan yet. It was also discovered tiling under the road does not go north toward the railroad tracks but into the lake. Its a real complex issue, Ford said.

As for staging the corner of Pickwick, Cornelius and East Shore, the committee has permission to go behind the utility poles and install a stop sign as well as tap into the electricity provided by WPOA for a flashing light.