Lt. Gov. Crouch launch Crowdfunding Campaign For USI Bike Park And Trails

$50,000 Goal Receive Matching Grant Through IHCDA’s CreatINg Places Initiative

Evansville, Ind. (Dec. 9, 2022) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) today launched a crowdfunding campaign to help develop trails and bike parks for Evansville residents and USI students. If this campaign reaches its goal of raising $50,000 by Feb. 17, 2023, the project led by Trail Heads – Southwest Indiana will receive a matching grant as part of IHCDA’s CreatINg Places program.

“CreatINg Places helps connect Hoosiers to their neighborhoods, towns and natural spaces,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. “Projects like bike parks and trails improve quality of life and help attract new students and permanent residents to our state. I am excited to launch this campaign with IHCDA and continue community development in southwestern Indiana.”

Funds from this campaign will be used to develop and build the initial 1.2 miles of the Gateway Trails and Campus Loop on USI’s campus. When completed, the campus will have 20 miles of trails and 22 acres of bike parks. While this trail system will offer a much needed hub for local trail users, the scale and variety of features in this project will also help USI stand out as one of the best campuses in the country for trails. 

“We look forward to collaborating with Trail Heads on this project that will create an experience not found in most Midwestern college campuses,” said Jim Wolfe, Director of USI Facility Operations and Planning. “We hope to draw more of the community, near and far, to the USI campus, while also providing more outdoor recreational activities for our students.”

Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $7.2 million in public funds and an additional $5.9 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply.

Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.