State budget cuts all funding for trails in Indiana
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - A change in Indiana’s state budget could have serious consequences for outdoor recreation and community connectivity across the state.
The budget eliminates all funding for trails, including the Next Level Trails program, which previously received $7 million in the past years.
Kent Castleman, executive director at Fort Wayne Trails, says this funding is critical - not only for expanding trail networks, but also for maintaining and improving the trails communities rely on.
Without funding, Castleman says local efforts to provide safe, accessible outdoor spaces could stall or disappear altogether.
Castleman says trails play a major role in Indiana’s economy and quality of life.
He says in Fort Wayne, trails connect neighborhoods, parks, and business districts - helping build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.
Castleman urges the community to take action by contacting state lawmakers through a web form.
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