Southwest School Corp teaming up with city to plan walking/biking paths for students (public input requested tonight)

Southwest Dubois County School Corporation and the City of Huntingburg are in the process of applying for a grant to develop a comprehensive plan for safe walking or biking paths in the city connected to Southridge Middle School and Huntingburg Elementary.

Currently students are not allowed to bike or walk to the elementary school due to the lack of safe walkways and paths. Students can ride a bike or walk to the middle school but the same lack of safe walkways and paths prohibits that choice.

The school is the lead on the application with the city’s support. The plan would be to develop multi-use, pedestrian and biking paths within two miles of the school. The initial application is for up to $70,000 to create the plan. The planning includes community engagement and training.

“We are looking at ways we can improve access to the schools and maybe get some benefits beyond that like connecting parks and providing trails. The idea of this grant is to put together this comprehensive plan,” said Mayor Denny Spinner.

The paths could benefit the school in allowing students alternatives for getting to school. It could relieve some of the pressure on the school busing system and even increase the fitness of students.

After the comprehensive plan is completed by Commonwealth Engineers, the school and city would apply for grants to implement it.

Spinner stated under ideal circumstances the priority paths identified in the plan could be in place in the next three years. “There’s a lot of different issues we are looking at and it could be a multiple year project.”

The mayor is asking for input at the Common Council meeting occurring tonight at 7:00 p.m.