VERNON – The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the town of Vernon celebrated the grand opening of the new Muscatatuck Park Trail on April 26th. The 1.25-mile multi-use trail aims to enhance connectivity and outdoor recreation opportunities within the community.
“Trails provide vital connections between people and the places where we live, work, and play,” said Dale Brier, DNR Deputy Director of Community Grants and Trails. “This new trail in Vernon will help connect people with more outdoor recreation opportunities in their community, and we’re honored that DNR and Next Level Trails were able to partner on this project.”
The project was made possible through a $1.86 million Next Level Trails (NLT) grant, awarded to the town of Vernon in February 2021. The newly completed trail features two interconnected sections: a 0.5-mile natural-surface mountain bike and hiking trail linking Vernon to the scenic Vinegar Mill Overlook in Muscatatuck Park, and a 0.75-mile asphalt trail within Vernon connecting the Vernon Gym to the historic Vernon Commons park. Partners in the project included the Jennings County Parks and Recreation Department and the Jennings County Community Foundation.
The Next Level Trails program represents the most significant investment in trails funding in Indiana’s history, with $180 million dedicated to creating crucial trail connections. To date, 42 of the 89 NLT-funded projects are complete, resulting in over 115 miles of new trail construction statewide since the program’s inception. An additional 17 projects are currently under construction.
Vernon Mayor Brad Bender expressed the community’s excitement for the now-open trail, stating, “The citizens of the town of Vernon have been thrilled with this project and watched progress as it developed, and are ready to formally open it to the rest of Jennings County and the State of Indiana. They are especially grateful to the Jennings County Community Foundation, the Jennings County Park Board, The Jennings County Council, the Local Boy Scout Troop 541, and mostly to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for making this a reality.”
