On Dec. 19, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Radius Indiana marked the completion of the first section of Phase 1A of the Monon South Trail. The 1.27-mile multi-use trail extends from Stetson Street to Freeman’s Corner in the town of Orleans. Of the mileage, 1.18 miles of the trail surface is asphalt, and 0.09 miles is crushed aggregate. The project includes a new trailhead at Franklin Street with vehicle parking, a restroom, bike racks, and other trailhead amenities. 

The segment is the first of five to open in Phase 1 of the Monon South project. In total, Phase 1 will build 20 miles of trail, including segments in Borden, New Pekin, Salem, Campbellsburg, Saltillo, and Mitchell. 

“The development of the Monon South Trail will be a game changer for attracting massive interest in outdoor recreation across the five-county region in southern Indiana, connecting locals and visitors alike to these communities and the many attractions available along the way,” said Dan Bortner, DNR director. “With the opening of this first section of Indiana’s future longest recreational trail, we’re blazing new trails while preserving history and sparking new economic opportunities.” 

CSXT, a successor to the Monon Railroad, last operated trains on the section of the line in 2008 and abandoned the rail line in 2018. Under a process known as railbanking, New Albany and Radius petitioned to negotiate with CSXT to acquire the out-of-service rail corridor for use as a recreational trail.

Next Level Trails funded the purchase of the 62.3-mile corridor on behalf of New Albany and Radius Indiana for the combined sum of $5.5 million. DNR granted Radius with an additional $22.3 million to support development of the 20 miles in Phase 1. New Albany will own and manage the portion of the trail in Floyd County, and Radius Indiana will be responsible for the trail in Clark, Washington, Orange and Lawrence counties. 

More information about NLT is at on.IN.gov/NextLevelTrails.

Hunter Shot In Hunting Accident 

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a hunting accident which happened the morning of Dec. 7 near the town of Ladoga. Shortly after 9:30am, the Montgomery County Central Dispatch Center received a call requesting medical assistance for a hunter who had been shot near the 10000 block of South County Road 375 East.

Gregory Click, 51, of Franklin, sustained a gunshot wound to his ankle after another hunter attempted to shoot at a deer crossing between them on the same property. Click was transported to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis to be treated for the injury. 

The incident is still under investigation. 

First Day Hikes On New Year’s Day

Usher in 2025 with other outdoor lovers at one of the many First Day Hikes offered January 1 at Indiana’s state parks and lakes. First Day Hikes are a healthy way to start the New Year. They offer a chance to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature, and connect with friends. Find one near you at on.IN.gov/INStateParkEvents.

The hikes are organized by Indiana State Parks in cooperation with America’s State Parks. They will take place in all 50 states. First Day Hikes originated more than 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Massachusetts. The program was launched to foster healthy lifestyles and promote year-round recreation at state parks. For more information, visit America’s State Parks website at stateparks.org.

Registration For Pokagon State Park IMN Classes

Pokagon State Park, the Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and the Friends of Pokagon will host an Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) workshop in the spring of 2025. Sessions for the workshop will begin at the park’s Nature Center on April 10 at 6 p.m. There will be nine Thursday night sessions scheduled and one Saturday session, on May 3 at 8:30 a.m. No session is scheduled for Thursday, May 15. Sessions will meet at either the Pokagon Nature Center or Swenson Lodge, the latter of which is located within Trine State Recreation Area. Each session covers a different topic presented by resource professionals in fields such as geology, wetland ecology, and herpetology.

The registration fee of $120 includes class materials, several guidebooks, and light refreshments at each session. Registration forms are available by emailing Aimee M. Wentworth, awentworth@dnr.IN.gov or calling the Pokagon Nature Center at 260-833-3506. You may also download forms from steubenswcd.org. 

‘till next time, 

Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com 

Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.