About the Conklin Bay Boardwalk & Trail
The Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee took on their biggest challenge in 2015, when they started the planning stages for the Conklin Bay Project what would extend our existing 11-mile of trail with one-third of mile wetland boardwalk and two-thirds of a mile concrete trail. The committee and the former director worked relentlessly on getting the percentage of funds needed so they could apply for the Next Level Trails Grant through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). On February 6, 2019, we were able to apply for this grant. On May 2, 2019, we received $1.2 million grant from the DNR for the Conklin Bay Boardwalk and Trail Project which created a lot of excitement for the committee and the Town of Syracuse. Groundbreaking took place on June 10, 2019 and construction began on October 13, 2019.
Conklin Bay Boardwalk and Trail officially opened May 20, 2020. This trail includes one-third mile of boardwalk that goes through the Rolland Wetland Conservation Area. A total of four overlook areas are available for trail users and nature enthusiasts to sit, observe and enjoy a natural lake ecosystem. The trail continues south with two-thirds of a mile concrete sidewalk, along SR 13, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation (WACF) nature preserves and ends at Grandview Drive. While on the trail, users can explore three WACF’s walking trails through preserved and reclaimed wetlands. The trail connects to Harkless Drive and parking is available at the entrance to WACF.
The new trail adds approximately 1.37 miles to the existing 11-miles of trails continuing our vision of connected trail throughout our vibrant community.
To access the Conklin Bay trail, park at the entrance to WACF. Please observe their no parking signs and do not park by the pavilion. The desired parking location is along the right-hand side of the driveway in front of the porta-potties.
Conklin Bay Donors
The Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our Conklin Bay Donors for their support during this project that spans over five years. We deeply appreciate their generosity, collaboration, encouragement and trust as we continue to make a connected community a reality!
Next Level Trails administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation
Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation
Dekko Foundation
K21 Foundation
Miller Family Foundation
Kosciusko County Convention & Visitors Commission
Laudeman Family Charitable Fund
Janet and Max Laudeman
| Wawasee Property Owners Association Kenneth and Lela Harkless Foundation The Papers, Inc. Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Inc Becky and Frank Levinson Myaamia Vice Fund, component fund of Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Inc. Ann and Walter Palmer The Greenways Foundation Deister Machine Company Jane and Irwin F. Deister, Jr. Stephen Fidler Kuert Concrete, Inc. My Red Moon/ Mark Phillabaum Carrie and Jeff Herdich Fayette County Foundation A&Z Engineering Buhrt Builders Barb and Bill Coon Earth Source, Inc. Girls Night Out Organization |
Janet and Phillip* Hartley Jamie and Brian Hull Lake Patrol part of WPOA Angie and Joseph Racolta Pulver Asphalt Paving, Inc. Selge Construction, Inc. Robert F. Smith Wilby’s Gas & Goodies Kay and Jim Young Clare and Larry Baumgardt Lakeland Animal Clinic Animal Hospital of Syracuse Dynamic Spine and Rehabilitation Center Lee and Craig Doyle Mary Beth* and Michael Gadus Nancy and Thomas Zimmerman Nancy and Thomas Cottrell Susan Kirkpatrick Robert and Kelly Kohlmeyer Susan and Tim Stump Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club |
Warsaw Rotary Club Cathy and Ervin Ciesialka Edward Rodabaugh Sarah and James Ruddell Elizabeth and Casey Cronin Suzanne C. Cronin Marilyn S. Crozier Dianne and James Kaiser Fran and Sam Leman Jason Metz Tonya and Jim Thieman LuAnn and John Wojtczak Erlene Yentes Fidelity Charitable Donor-Advised Fund Ann Godsey Andrea and Kurt Heinz Carole and Karl Keiper Cynthia and Layton Pergrem John Carvey Thomas Everett Lora Evans Stout |
| * designates deceased | ||