Logansport One of Two Cities Awarded Grant

The Indiana State Department of Health announced Monday that the City of Logansport will receive $20,000 to complete a Community-wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

The focus of this initiative is to invest in partnerships and activities that lead to healthier communities statewide. Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell credited City/County Planning Director Arin Shaver for securing the grant along with the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council. Grant funds will be used to promote fitness throughout not only the city, but the county.

“Indiana’s rankings in so many areas are strong, but as the recent U.S. News & World Report rankings indicate, we continue to lag behind other states in some respects because of our public health,” Kitchell said. “All of us need to be more active, and this grant is a step in the right direction.”

In rankings released in the past month, Indiana ranked 42nd in public health – the worst ranking of all Midwest states. Only Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Louisiana and Alabama were lower.

As one of only two recipients in the state, Logansport will create a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan to establish the city’s vision for walking and biking pathways. The objective is to have a safe walkable community with bike lanes and pathways for alternative transportation options designed to meet the needs of residents of all ages. The City is also working closely with Cass County and several local and regional organizations to further develop the 6.5 miles of local trails and to establish connectivity to the state-wide Nickel Plate and Panhandle trail systems.

The community-wide planning effort will take into consideration safety concerns, community health, aesthetics, including way-finding signs, benches and bike racks. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will identify and prioritize short-term and long-term projects that ultimately create a safe and efficient transportation network that connects residents and visitors to the local and regional assets of Logansport and Cass County.