Earth Day was on the calendar and in the mind of at least one participant at the groundbreaking held Tuesday for the next phase of the Veterans Memorial Bike Trail.

Dale Brier, Deputy Director at Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks, spoke briefly at the ceremony held at the intersection of Grant and Monitor streets.

Brier said he couldn’t think of a more perfect day to celebrate the start of a new bike trail.

“Thanks to all participants. Happy Earth Day,” Brier said.

This next bike trail phase, approximately one mile, will connect a section of the Crown Point trail that is already completed.

The new trail will run east from the Erie-Lackawanna Trail along Summit Street and connect to the current Veterans Memorial Trail at Indiana Avenue and North Street, near the Sportsplex.

The new trail is expected to be completed by this fall, city officials said.

Crown Point Mayor Pete Land said going forward with the new bike trail “a quality of life” issue for those who reside in the city and those who visit the city.

He thanked all those who were part of the project including the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC), engineers and city officials.

“We can’t do this ourselves. It takes a partnership and team effort,” Land said.

The city was awarded a grant for the extension through the State of Indiana’s Next Level Trails Program.

“We are looking forward to completing this part of the trail,” he said.

Land also thanked veterans, including those from the American Legion who came to the event and were asked to participate in the ceremonial shoveling of dirt to start the project.

“It means a lot that you are here backing us up,” he said.

Mitch Barloga, the active transportation planner for NIRPC, called the bike trail “a great step forward going through the heart of an older historic city.”

Barloga spoke of the many years that go into the start and finish with initial planning for this project going back some 25 years.

“I’m excited to say the least,” Barloga said.

Barloga said he was also honored to bring honor to those who served.

“We believe we have the first trail dedicated to veterans,” he said.

The first phase of the Veterans Memorial Bike Trail was completed in 2021.

The entire trail will ultimately be 2.84 miles and will connect to both the Pennsy Greenway and the Erie Lackawanna bike trails.

The trail generally follows the former Pennsylvania Railroad Corridor.

Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.