The City of Kendallville has awarded the contract to construct two sections of trails in the city in 2021. Pulver Asphalt Paving, Albion, won the bid at $613,495.75.

A state grant and support from Noble Trails Inc., a nonprofit organization that has been creating and expanding trails in portions of Noble County, including Fishing Line Trail, will cover most of the costs with the city picking up about 10 percent of costs.

The new trail will include two sections of walking paths on the east side of Kendallville. One will connect the Fishing Line Trail to the Fairview Boulevard Trail near ACRES Land Trust’s Detering Nature Preserve. The other will extend the Dowling Street Trail from Allen Chapel Road to Walmart. These projects will aid in the city’s efforts to improve safety and give pedestrians an option to keep them from walking along the shoulders of US 6, one the nation’s longest, and busier highways.

The Fishing Line Trail extension will close one of Noble Trails’ last gaps and enhance the 11-mile connection between Kendallville and Rome City. Noble Trails is continuing to work on expanding trails north to Wolcottville and south to Avilla as well, as part of their mission to improving quality of life for residents of Noble County through trail development.