City breaks ground on bicentennial trail

With just a couple of days left in the Columbus and Bartholomew County bicentennial year, local leaders broke ground on what has been called the celebration’s “seminal” project.

City officials and community members celebrated the start of work on the 1821 Trail extension Tuesday morning, determined not to let a little rain stop them from marking the occasion. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at First and Jackson Street, shortly after the Columbus Board of Works voted to engage Dave O’Mara Contractors on the project for a little over $1.7 million.

“How appropriate that we are breaking ground for the 1821 Trail, which is a long-lasting legacy project, which is going to permanently mark this moment in time, as we are celebrating 200 years of ‘common ground,’” said Diane Doup, co-chair of the bicentennial committee.

After a few remarks about the project, Doup, co-chair Tobi Herron, Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop, and Columbus Redevelopment Commission President Al Roszczyk picked up shovels and dug out the first pieces of a small mound of dirt.

Herron and Doup then invited Samantha Sparks and An Cao — the secondary and adult winners, respectively, of the “Bartholomew County: Your Vision Our Future” essay contest — to join in. According to organizers, first place winners in each category will also have their names put on commemorative bricks along the trail. The first place winner in the elementary division was Valeria Cortes.

Lienhoop said the trail is a much-needed project.

“We’ve had a need for a trail connection for some time,” he said. “We have 26 miles of trail, People Trails, and they all sort of come down here, but they don’t meet.”

The trail adds value to downtown Columbus, will bring together people of all ages, and is a project that people support, added Doup.

“One of the first steps that the bicentennial undertook was gathering public input two years ago,” she said. “And one of the themes that emerged was the expansion of the People Trail. So this is a very exciting day for us.”

The project is also an example of local collaboration, Lienhoop said. The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department, Columbus Park Foundation and Columbus Redevelopment Commission have all been involved with the trail extension. He also commended the bicentennial committee for their work.

Roszczyk also thanked city staff and county government.

“It’s their (the county’s) push that continues, and all the residents of Bartholomew County continue to push to make Columbus the best place to live in the United States,” he said.

Tuesday also marked the city’s decision of a contractor on the trail. Prior to the ceremony, the board of works voted to award the project to Dave O’Mara Contractors, which submitted lowest base bid for the trail and water main replacement. The total project amount, counting both the base bid and other components such as historical markers, is $1,702,678.50, said assistant city engineer Andrew Beckort.

Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon said that in addition to funds contributed by entities such as the redevelopment commission and parks foundation, the city also hopes to use American Rescue Plan funding on the project.