Community leaders and trail advocates gathered on Dec. 19 at the trailhead to break ground on a trail upgrade project for the popular MYPath Trail System in Owen County.

The new project will pave the surface of the trail and include a bridge over Elliston Creek to create a bicycle-friendly, ADA-accessible trail along the White River. The trail upgrade was awarded a competitive Next Level Trails grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. At the same time, MYPath leaders will maintain connected natural-surface side trails to allow multiple types of hiking experiences.

The MYPath Trail System was envisioned in 2016 as a path leading from the Family YMCA west of Spencer, through the town and to McCormick’s Creek State Park. Currently, the trail includes shared sidewalks and streets from the Y and through the town. The new section will continue the paved surface on the south side of the river. Though this project will not quite reach the park, MYPath is being considered as a crucial link in a future trail network in Owen and Monroe counties.