(LAGRANGE) – Funds have been given to help with a trail project in Northeast Indiana.

The LaGrange County Community Foundation has received a grant of $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Community Leadership Implementation Grants component of the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative.

The grant will support the estimated $11 million needed for the first two phases of the Hawpatch Trail in Topeka. Managed by LaGrange County Trails, this funding will be instrumental in advancing the project, attracting additional resources, and turning the vision of a vibrant community bike trail into reality.

Octavia Yoder, Executive Director of the Foundation, says this is truly a dream come true for LaGrange County. To begin a multi million dollar trail project with $5 million is beyond comprehension. Yoder says this will be a game changer for the community, providing a safer route for cyclists and walkers, and providing more outdoor recreational opportunities.

The Hawpatch Trail is a transformative 17 mile, multi-use bike and pedestrian trail that will connect Noble County’s Fishing Line Trail with Elkhart County’s Strawberry Valley Trail. Following the former Wabash Railroad Corridor, this project represents a total investment of nearly $18 million and will be completed in five phases. The first two phases will span 9.25 miles in and around Topeka, serving as the foundation for the trail’s full development and bringing safe, active, and accessible outdoor recreation to the community.