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New trail will open on June 6

A new recreational trail that follows the Wabash River west of Huntington will be dedicated on Saturday, June 6, at 9 a.m.

The dedication ceremony will be held at the trailhead, located at 2753 W. Park Drive, across from Huntington Nursery. The public is invited to attend the event, then walk or ride a bicycle down the trail after the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The trail was constructed by the Huntington Parks and Recreation Department, using a State Trails Grant received about a year ago, explains Jennifer Hotchkiss, assistant superintendent for the Parks Department. The trail is on property owned by the Historic Forks of the Wabash, which gave the Parks Department a 51-year easement to build the trail.

The trail starts across from Huntington Nursery, where the Wabash and Little rivers meet, and runs for about a mile along the Wabash river - under Ind.-9 and behind the Forks of the Wabash Historic Park, almost to the Rangeline Road bridge.

All but the last 660 feet of the trail is eight feet wide and paved, Hotchkiss says. The last 660 feet of the trail lies on the towpath for the Wabash and Erie Canal. It's covered in stone and is only about five feet wide, Hotchkiss says, a compromise made to preserve the towpath.

"We wouldn't want to destroy that part of the canal," she says.

The trail is open only to non-motorized traffic, including pedestrians and bicyclists, Hotchkiss says. Dogs are welcome, and motorized wheelchairs will also be allowed on the trail. Four-wheelers, mopeds, golf carts and other motorized vehicles are banned from the trail.

The trail is not lighted, Hotchkiss says, although the Parks Department is considering adding lighting to the trailhead.

The dedication ceremony coincides with the Parks Department's celebration of the American Hiking Society's National Trails Day (NTD), which will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

"Celebrating NTD at our new trail will hopefully draw numerous people out and expose them to this beautiful addition to the community," Hotchkiss says. "From the feedback I've received so far, residents in this area absolutely love this new trail."