
Signs on the Sweetser Switch Trail
Small town transforms old rail corridor.
In 2003, the small Grant County, Indiana town of Sweetser completed asphalting its three mile path called the Sweetser Switch Trail. During the first year of construction, the town of Sweetser carried out five unique steps.
One accomplishment was the the town's establishment of a parks department. While this many not seem special, it is important to note that Sweetser is so small (population 906) a parks department seems to be unnecessary.
Within a year the Sweetser Switch Trail was open, after obtaining the old rail corridor, faster than any other rail-train in Indiana.
Interestingly, this first mile was opened on a zero budget, achieved by donations of materials to build a bridge, trades of fine crushed limestone to replace heavier railroad ballast, and by voluntary labor and equipment to build the bridge and prepare the trail surface.
Rest stop along the trail
Volunteers were such an important factor both during construction and then later that virtually the whole town has been engaged. Also in this first phase, the community contracted a trail bridge with benches. As other phases asphalted the trail RTP funds also paid for lighting, both electrical and solar.
2021: Vermilion Falls Trail
2021: Climax Tunnel Rehabilitation
2020: Blue Ridge Tunnel Rehabilitation & Trail Project
2020: Milan Trail Huggers Nash Stream Bridge
2019: Weed Patch Mountain Trail
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2015: Joanna Trail Project - Missouri
2014: Abbott Motocross Park - Nebraska
2014: Millersburg Historic Park and Trailhead - Michigan
2013: East and West Twin Creek Bridges - Michigan
2012: Chattahoochee Nature Trails - Florida
2012: Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway - Nevada
2011: Iron Range OHV Recreation Area - Minnesota
2010: Agassiz Recreational Trail - Minnesota
2009: Sam Houston Multiple-Use Trail - Texas
2008: Wanoga Snopark Shelter - Oregon
2007: Potato Knob Trail at Holly River State Park - West Virginia
2006: Indian Canyon Trailhead - California
2006: Upper Waiakea ATV/Dirt Bike Park - Hawaii
2006: County Line Acres Bikeway - Ohio
2005: River Bluff Trail Project - Indiana
2005: Red Creek Bridge - Michigan
2005: MKT Trailhead Project - Missouri
2004: Diana Bend Conservation Area Trail Project - Missouri
2003: Jane Addams Trail - Illinois
2003: Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Area - West Virginia