Parke Community Rail Trail Phase 1

On Sept. 9, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Parke Trails Alliance celebrated the opening of the first phase of the Parke Community Rail Trail in Rosedale.

“Hoosiers overwhelmingly tell us that hiking and getting out on trails is their favorite form of outdoor recreation,” said Allen Hurst, DNR trails manager. “Trails like the Parke Community Rail Trail provide a great way for Hoosiers to get outside, and at DNR, we’re proud to support their construction.”

Phase 1 stretches from Big Raccoon Creek, through Rosedale, to the Vigo County line. The section includes a repurposed railcar transformed into a cost-effective bridge. The segment, 2.6 miles of hard-surface trail, was constructed by the nonprofit with help from a $5 million dedicated grant administered by the DNR.

When complete, the Parke Community Rail Trail will add more than 8 miles of trail between the Rockville Depot and the Vigo County line, connecting multiple cities. The project uses portions of the former Vandalia Railroad and will include eight bridges and four trailheads.

“Phase 1 is officially opening. This is the first of four phases of construction in completing the Parke Community Rail Trail,” said Parke Trails Alliance board member Mark Davis. “This project is about more than just building a trail. It’s about creative use of resources, local partnerships, and developing something that will benefit residents and visitors for generations.”

Indiana tree largest of its species in the nation

A swamp chestnut oak tree in Jennings County has been recognized as the largest of the species in the country by the National Champion Tree program, with a height of 95 feet, a circumference of 318 inches, and a canopy spread of 118 feet.

The record swamp chestnut oak is on the family farm owned by Richard and Kris Schepman outside of Crothersville. Gov. Mike Braun and Indiana Department of Natural Resources leaders recently presented the Schepmans with a certificate recognizing their family’s stewardship of the impressive tree.

“Over the last century, Indiana’s forested land has substantially grown as a result of Hoosiers’ conservation work and responsible stewardship,” Braun said. “The Schepman family and private landowners across the state deserve high praise for their commitment to growing healthy trees like this giant in Jennings County, which I hope continues to stand tall for generations of future Hoosiers to enjoy.”

The DNR Division of Forestry, which maintains a list of Indiana’s largest known tree of each of the state’s native species, notified the national program of the tree, and its record score of 442.5, which is the tree’s height (feet), circumference (inches), and canopy spread (feet, multiplied by 0.25) added together.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, the swamp chestnut oak is native to “the Atlantic Coastal Plain from New Jersey and extreme eastern Pennsylvania, south to north Florida, and west to east Texas; it is found north in the Mississippi River Valley to extreme southeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and locally to southeast Kentucky and eastern Tennessee.”

The tree is on private property, so it is not available for public viewing.

‘till next time,  

Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com 

Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.