Town officials and volunteers cut the ribbon for a newly finished 1-mile walking trail around South Central Soccer Academy, 4899 W. Whiteland Road. Provided by the town of Bargersville
Bargersville’s trail system has expanded again with a new asphalt trail along Whiteland Road.
The town held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the South Central Soccer Association for the new 1-mile walking trail around South Central Soccer Academy, 4899 W Whiteland Road, on Thursday. Trail users, including families, were already enjoying the new trail before the celebration.
The completion of the trail gives residents of Bargersville a safe walking/bike path from Whiteland Road to downtown Bargersville, said Dan Cartwright, town manager. Bargersville now has 11 total miles of trails.
Cartwright says the new trail will probably be the most active trail in the system. There was never a plan to put a trail around the soccer academy, but the need for it became apparent in talks with the South Central Soccer Association, he said.
The project reflects the collaborative efforts of the community and the importance of connectivity for the town, said Susie Qualls, town council member.
“This trail is a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together, dream big and work hard,” Qualls said.
The trail will serve many purposes for the community, Qualls said. It will offer a peaceful place for residents to exercise, a gathering space for fitness groups and a place for parents to enjoy while their kids are at soccer practice. The trail also provides a safe pathway for emergency vehicles in case of an accident or injury on the soccer field, Qualls said.
The trail will also help promote healthy lifestyles for residents and visitors, she said. Most importantly, the project represents the success of the youth soccer organization, Qualls said.
At the ribbon cutting for the trail, Qualls thanked people for their effort on the project, including town council members, the parks board, Milestone Contractors and CrossRoad Engineers.
Early receptions of the walking path have been “overwhelmingly positive,” said Jeff Purdy, president of South Central Central Soccer Academy. The timeline for completing the project was tight, having only a few months between the end of the spring season and the beginning of the fall season to finish, Purdy said.
Parents are excited to have something to do instead of sitting in their cars during practice, Purdy said. As part of the project, the academy added 10 new parking spots that are ADA-accessible, which will be a benefit to their free special-needs soccer team called Top Soccer.
Purdy also thanked volunteers like Ryan Durrel, who focuses on facilities and has helped spearhead the expansion of the trail, he said.
“We’re excited to think forward in the future about what other types of events we can host here at SCSA with new offerings,” Purdy said.
