The Cardinal Greenway will receive a $1,000,000 gift today to help stretch its territory another seven miles.
The Greenway, which will span 60 miles and five counties when completed, constitutes the largest "rails to trails" project in the state, a project to convert old railroad corridors into pedestrian walkways.
But at least another $250,000 must be found before the 30-mile long swath of recreational trail can grow.
"It's a continuous effort," said Steve Varner, the executive director of Delaware Trails, which owns the Greenway. "We simply keep working towards our goal."
Gov. Frank O'Bannon will present the $1,000,000 - a portion of the $16,000,000 allocated to Indiana from the federal Transportation Enhancement grants - at 1:30 p.m. at the start and finish line of the trail at the Prairie Creek Reservoir, near the junction of U.S. 35 and C.R. 534 East.
Varner said he expects construction to begin in 12 months. When completed, the Greenway will extend from the reservoir into Henry and Randolph counties and end in Losantville.
Before construction commences on the next seven miles, though, city and county businesses and residents will need to provide a matching 20 percent of the grant, said Diana Roach, the director of programming for Delaware Trails.
Past expansions were also completed with local donations and federal funding, and Varner said the future combination of federal dollars and community generosity is needed to fuel the unrealized 27 miles.
Roach originally asked for $1,800,000 from the grant, but with about another 110 applicants contending for a piece of the $16,000,000, spending caps needed to be employed, said Mike Helton, transportation enhancement program manager.
Helton said about 40 projects were awarded at least partial funding this year.
"By partially funding it this year, we want to provide the project owners with a kick start," Helton said. "It's an incredibly competitive program. We know there are many applicants that we get that are good...(but) due to the financial situation, we had to bypass (them)."
Helton said organizations are welcome to reapply next year for more money.
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