STA Identifies Adjacent B&O Property Owners


(posted Aug 23)


The Speedway Trail Association plans to canvas the B&O corridor's adjacent property owners about their opinions of developing a trail. In order to make the trail a reality, property owners would have to transfer their property rights or provide easements to make the corridor into a public linear trail. The survey will ask property owners if they would sell, grant an easement or donate the land to the STA.  No date for the survey has been set. The STA has identified about 100 property owners they would need to contact.

B&O Trail Association member Kurt Vonnegut suggested the STA comprise a team that would be sensitive to the property owners, and not challenge them if they are restive to the idea. Vonnegut said contacting them in person is the proper method, but warned that it would be laborious because not everyone will open their doors for various reasons.

STA President Bev Alexander said Councilman Dean Farmer urged the group to talk to the landowners that are in his district. The corridor runs south of Cadillac Drive.  Alexander and STA member Nathan Fite walked the trail to see its condition. Alexander said there is evidence that it is being used, noting she saw steps leading to the trail from adjacent owners' backyards.

Fite said it was not overgrown or heavily littered as he had expected. He offered to clean the brush out from the trail but to not to clear cut in order to keep the trail with a canopy of tree shade.

Marie Hall, mentor of the Speedway High School Key Club, said the students decided to devote an entire year to clearing debris and growth from the trail. Hall said the students were eager to start as soon as possible.

Alexander said they had to wait for permission to have access to the trail from the town. She noted that she talked to Street Department Commissioner Wendall Walters, who advised them not to pull roots out because they could pull up the fiber optic cables along with the root system.

Vonnegut suggested contacting the Indiana Underground Planting Protection Service to find our where utility easements are located.

Alexander said she would like to trim the growth along the corridor that is adjacent to Leonard Park because trail users cannot be seen. She does not like the fact the trail users would be isolated from sight.

The group also voted to allow the BOTA to serve as the STA's fiscal agent so it can start fund raising projects.

Eileen Savoldi volunteered to organize a group to ride bikes in the September 22 Speedway Main Street Parade to promote the trails.

The group plans to have an active website soon at speedwaytrails.org.