The Town of Chrisney recently started a shared use trail, that while beautiful and easy to use, was difficult to get to unless by car.  Erin Meyer, a Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Community Wellness Coordinator and the community action team discussed the importance of the trail and the need for it to be safely accessible by walking or biking. The Town of Chrisney decided to seek grant funding to improve the sidewalks and partnered with the Tri-County YMCA to write a grant application. With facilitation from Purdue Extension, the group applied for the Welborn Baptist Foundation’s Healthy Eating, Active Living Grant.

On June 13, 2017, this collaboration was awarded a grant to improve sidewalks between school and park, extend the trail access to street level and to an additional half mile around the park’s lake. Thanks to the efforts of many partners — Tri-County YMCA, the Town of Chrisney, Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program, Chrisney Elementary School, Chrisney Parks Board, Spencer County Community Foundation, Chrisney Civic Association, St. Martin’s Catholic Parish and Catholic Diocese of Evansville — the trail is now accessible to all!