TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A ribbon cutting to celebrate the completed construction of a new trail in Bicentennial Park will be held on Saturday, September 30.

According to a release from the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Super Intendent, Adam Grossman, the event will take place at 10:00 a.m. where kids in the community will have the chance to “run through the ribbon to officially mark the opening of the new trail” during the Kids Fun Run ‘Turtle Trot’ at the Explore Wabashiki event. 

The trail is 0.6 miles long, 10 feet wide, and ADA accessible with a parking area in Bicentennial Park. 

“We wanted to make an extension off the pedestrian connector to connect folks to both the wetlands and the western bank of the Wabash River,” Grossman explained. 

The trail was funded by a Recreational Trails Program grant through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. 

The release also notes the change in funding due to inflation throughout the years the project has been ongoing, stating, “Since the project was initially quoted, inflation has soared. The Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department was short $137,000 to complete the project. The Vigo County Health Department stepped up to help to promote outdoor activity.”

The Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department has noted many people in the community make frequent use of the pedestrian connector that links Terre Haute and West Terre Haute and hopes that the additional 0.6 miles of trail will increase pedestrian opportunities. 

“With the extreme proximity to downtown Terre Haute hotels and destinations, this is an added opportunity for folks to bike, hike, and walk along the Wabashiki Wetlands and the Wabash River,” Grossman said.

For more information, including a list of the day’s activities, check out the Explore Wabashiki webpage. Registration for the Kids Fun Run ‘Turtle Trot’ is free and recommended although not required.