by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

If all goes well, the first phase of the Steven Nation Pathways will be underway two years from now. The recreational trail will be the latest in the growing number of Hamilton County walking and bike trails. The name for the trail was announced Wednesday by County Commissioner Steve Dillinger in his annual State of the County address.

The Nation Pathways, named in honor of recently retired Superior Court Judge Steven Nation, will ultimately run from Potters Bridge Park to Atlanta with a branch to Strawtown Koteewi Park via 234th Street.

Nation

The trail has been on the county’s alternative transportation master plan for several years, but only now is application for funding being sought. The county highway department is in the process of seeking a grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources which officials hope will cover 70 percent of the estimated $1.5 million cost of the first phase, says highway director Brad Davis.

The completed trail, several years from now, will cross White River at Potters Bridge north of Noblesville, then run alongside Cumberland Road north to 234th Street then west to Cicero where it will be built alongside State Road 19 to Atlanta. The first phase will be the section from Cicero to Koteewi.

Recreational trails have become immensely popular in recent years, and Hamilton County is seeking to become a leader in this form of recreation and transportation. While the highway department is taking the lead because most of the Nation trail will run on or along highway right-of-way, the county parks department will eventually become involved in some aspects of trail upkeep.

Former Judge Nation was apparently surprised by the naming of the planned trail. He left his court Dec. 31 after a successful 40-year career both as a judge and earlier as county prosecutor. He is a Noblesville resident.

County Parks director Al Patterson also said Friday that his department hopes to open a new 19-acre lake in Koteewi Park this spring. The lake, located where gravel extraction was underway for several years, will provide an additional attraction at the park with fishing, swimming and non-motorized boating. Exact opening date will depend in weather, Patterson said.