The second public meeting was held on March 25, 2025, at Wanatah Town Hall. The session covered future development of trails and shared roadways throughout the County.
The presentation can be seen below.
The presentation can be seen below.
Vision Statement
Participants voted on three different vision statements based on words that were chosen in meeting #1. The results are shown here:
| Voting Result | Vision Statement |
|---|---|
| 36 | La Porte County strives to create a bicycle and pedestrian network that will connect people, parks, and places. The La Porte County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will prioritize pedestrian safety and multi-use trails, promoting health and recreation that is safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone. |
| 32 | La Porte County envisions a safe, sustainable, and connected bicycle and pedestrian network. A network that will foster economic development and recreational opportunities through multi-use trails, creative wayfinding, and pedestrian friendly access. |
| 27 | We want the La Porte County Bicycle and Pedestrian network to be inclusive, accessible, and connect us to each other and to nature. La Porte County is known for its parks, small towns, and nature beauty. Creating a connected trail system for bicyclists and pedestrians will enhance safety, sustainability, and health for all La Porte County residents and neighboring counties. |
Based on these votes the following vision statement was created:
“La Porte County envisions a safe, sustainable bicycle and pedestrian network that fosters economic activity and recreational opportunities that connects to parks, towns, cities, and key destinations. This network will feature multi-use trails, creative wayfinding, and pedestrian-friendly access while prioritizing safety, health, and non-motorized transportation.”
In addition to the vision statement exercise attendees also provided comments on where they would like to see the development of more trails and shared roadways. The following priorities were identified:
Trail and Pathway Improvements
- Expand detached multi-use paths, particularly along US-421
- Widen shoulders on high-traffic roadways
- Extend and pave more trails for longer, continuous routes
- Designate road running routes such as Downtown La Porte to Luhr County Park and Michigan City to Creek Ridge County Park.
Connectivity Enhancements
- Improve connectivity across south and east La Porte County, linking towns, regional landmarks, trails, parks, populated areas, and economic hubs
- Strengthen interconnections among County parks, City parks, nature areas, conservation lands, and natural landmarks
Regional Integration
- Develop connections to major regional trails like the Marquette Greenway and Great American Rail Trail
- Repurpose old rail corridors for trail development
Wayfinding and Signage
- Increase route signage for better navigation and user experience
Please share feedback!
Please share any feedback you have on potential trails and shared roadway routes here: