INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Five Indiana trails projects, including three in the Indianapolis area, have received money from the state government for development assistance, the Department of Natural Resources said in a news release issued Thursday. Carmel Clay Parks Recreation Department will r eceive one of the two largest grants, each totaling $400,000, for a half-mile of its White River Greenway in Hamilton County. The Fort Wayne city government received the other $400,000 grant for about three-quarters of a mile of its Fishing Line Trail. Carmel recently began on a north extension of the White River Greenway, which was first developed in 1998 and 1999. The asphalt trail in the very northeastern part of Carmel winds through wooded acres parallel with the White River. Fort Wayne’s Fishing Line Trail in the northwest part of the city was named for its history. People used to hop on the Grand Rapids Indiana Railroad trains and head north to Michigan to fish. The Fort Wayne government website says, “The .72 mile Carroll Road segment is located between Millstone Drive and State Road 3/Lima Road and will fill in a gap in the Carroll Road Trail that will provide connectivity to the Allen County Fairgrounds, four schools on Bethel Road, the Poka-Bache Connector/Pufferbelly Trail and several commercial properties.” Again north of Indianapolis, the Hamilton County Parks Recreation Department will receive $386,827.80 for trails at the Bur Oak Bend, totaling 1.65 miles. The 129-acre park along the White River near Noblesville includes only one developed area, the public-access Riverwood Canoe Launch that opened in 2007. Just east of Indianapolis, the Hancock County government received $376.496 for a quarter-mile trail at its first park, the 42-acre NineStar Park at Sugar Creek. The acreage sits off South County Road 300 West and adjoins the existing Pennsy Trail that goes into the county from Indianapolis. A presentation on how the park could be developed was posted recently on the government’s YouTube page. Finally, the Starke County town government of North Judson in northern Indiana will receive $140,000 for a half-mile of its Hidden Field Trail. Details on the project were not immediately available. Each of the governments will provide matching funds for their trail projects. Project schedules vary for the grant recipients, but the first of the trail projects could be open by October, the release said. The Indiana Trails Program issues grants every two years. The program is dedicated to expanding and enhancing Indiana’s network of trails, aiming to support outdoor recreation, community connectivity, economic development, and quality of life for Hoosiers. Natural Resources received 31 applications for the latest distribution. Brandt Baughman, director of Indiana State Parks, said in the release, “The strong interest this year underscores just how important trail development has become across the state.” ...read more read less