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WINONA LAKE — Grace College hosted a joint groundbreaking with Kosciusko County Velo (KCV) on Thursday afternoon to celebrate the start of two highly anticipated community projects. 

Various groups, including Grace students, faculty, staff, administration and community partners, first gathered to break ground on the Community Fieldhouse at the Miller Athletic Complex. 

[caption id="attachment_130270" align="alignright" width="420"] The Kosciusko County Velo Cycling Board of Directors broke ground on phase II of the Winona Lake Bike Park at the Hauth Trailhead along Pierceton Road on Thursday afternoon. Photo by Times-Union[/caption]

Then, the crowd made their way to Hauth Trailhead, the future site of the Winona Lake Bike Park, for the second groundbreaking.

“Both of these projects are key components of the Catalyst Corridor initiative that represents a strategic investment to significantly enhance community well-being, recreational opportunities and overall quality of place in the Winona Lake-Warsaw and greater Kosciusko County area,” said Dr. Emiko Kreklau, executive director of the Catalyst Corridor.

 “At Grace College, we are unapologetic about our community involvement. When our community thrives, we all thrive. Collectively, these projects will address the health and wellness needs in the community while also contributing to the region's vibrancy.”

According to recent community surveys, 87.2% of residents do not believe there are enough recreational facilities, and 89.6% specifically indicate a need for additional indoor facilities. Currently, residents who participate in youth and adult sports leagues such as soccer, baseball, softball, cricket and flag football frequently travel outside the area for sporting events and practices.

The Community Fieldhouse addresses the shortage by providing year-round accessibility and comprehensive amenities. The project will include an indoor turf field capable of supporting U-12 soccer games with a divider curtain for younger age youth soccer. The space will also contain six total batting cages for baseball and softball, as well as a weight-training room and restrooms.

The fieldhouse will be located at the Miller Athletic Complex, and will be in a prime location for community access. 

Eight new pickleball courts will be built adjacent to the fieldhouse and six existing tennis courts, providing sufficient space for community pickleball tournaments. The fieldhouse will also be connected to the Heritage Trail and the Winona Lake bike trails, just across from the Winona Lake Bike Park.

The second ribbon-cutting celebrates another step toward construction of KCV’s upcoming bike park, which will include a pump track, a kids bike playground, jump lines, a skill zone and more. The project transforms 15 acres into a space where riders of all ages and skill levels can ride, learn and grow. It builds on KCV’s 10+ miles of mountain bike trails and expands access to safe, structured riding experiences for the entire community.

“The addition of the Winona Lake Bike Park, in conjunction with the new fieldhouse, off-road trails and greenways, creates great, healthy opportunities for residents of Kosciusko County to enjoy outdoor activities,” said Mike Cusick, president of KCV Cycling. “This new recreation hub will also attract many visitors from outside our region, which will result in a significant positive economic impact for our community.”

The Times-Union reports Cusick said they’re estimating 1,100 truckloads of dirt will be moved from the fieldhouse to the park to create the base for the park, and that thanks to Grace College President Dr. Drew Flamm and others at Grace, much of the needed dirt will be moved from the Fieldhouse project.

The Catalyst Corridor Project is a series of initiatives in Warsaw and Winona Lake that fall into four themes: innovation initiatives, wellbeing amenities, connection ways and enhanced placemaking. The Catalyst Corridor is made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its College and Community Collaboration (CCC) initiative.

To learn more about the KCV bike park and how to get involved, go to kcvcycling.org/blog/kosciusko-county-bike-park-learn-ride-connect/.

To contribute to the Community Fieldhouse, visit www.grace.edu/give-to-grace/current-projects/.

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WINONA LAKE — Kosciusko County Velo (Better known as KCV), is shifting gears and moving into another fundraising goal after the organization paid off its mortgage for land that will be home to its future bike park.

The non-profit group announced on Tuesday night that it had paid off its mortgage and is starting a new round of fundraising for the future park along Piecerton Road on vacant land that is adjacent to the Winona Lake Mountain Bike Trail.

Amenities will feature a pump track, skills zone, bike playground, jump lines, and more.

Other aspects will include parking, a clubhouse with restrooms, and the opportunity for
expansion of the Heritage Trail Greenway to neighborhoods southeast of the park.

In 2021, KCV Cycling acquired 15 acres with the vision to build a comprehensive bike park for all ages that includes event space for Fat & Skinny Tire Fest and the Winona Lake Trail Fest.

Initial fundraising efforts have relied on personal donations, trail events, and grants from the Grace College Catalyst Corridor Initiative.

Other key supporters have included the Kosciusko County
Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission (KCCRVC), and K21 Health Foundation.

KCV Cycling is now launching phase 2 and 3 with a combined goal of collecting $4.9 million.

A news release from the group said $1.7 million will be used for site preparation, gravel parking lot, bike playground, skills park, dual slalom, progressive jump lines and more. 

Another $1.5 million will involve construction of a paved pumptrack, clubhouse and additional amenities, beginning once Phase 2 is complete.

"We're excited to complete Phase 1 fundraising for the Winona Lake Bike Park,” said Mike Cusick, KCV Cycling President. “We've now paid off our mortgage and completed the initial design of the park. We are going to start building the bike park this fall while we continue to fundraise for the next two phases."

The upcoming fundraising already includes $1 million in grant money from the Grace College Catalyst Corridor Initiative, the news release said.

Site preparation will start this fall and construction will continue through 2026, the news release said.

"The Winona Lake Bike Park is a great addition to our community and region,” Rich Haddad, President & CEO, K21 Health Foundation. “It adds to the popular Winona Lake Bike Trails and connects to our greenways and neighborhoods. This not only provides additional healthy activities for our residents and will be a world-class place to introduce and develop the next generation of bike lovers."

KCV Cycling is currently seeking donations, grants, and sponsorships.

For more information on donating, visit kcvcycling.networkforgood.com or contact leaders at info@kcvcycling.org.

KCV is a volunteer-run, nonprofit focused on making Kosciusko County a great place to live, work, play and visit through bicycling. Going on its 22nd year, KCV hosts the popular Fat & Skinny Tire Festival, organizes additional events and riding opportunities for the public, educates elementary school students through the Tracey's Trailer Bike Education Program, and maintains the off-road trails in Winona Lake

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WINONA LAKE — The 20th annual Fat & Skinny Tire Fest, which arrives Friday, May 16, has maxed out in the number of activities and space for now, but that will likely expand in coming years.

Part of future growth is connected to the proposed Winona Lake Bike Park along Pierceton Road, which already accommodates several events during Fat & Skinny but recently moved into a faster gear after supporters learned that Grace College would use part of its $27 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to support construction of the bike park.

The proposed park, which is directly adjacent to the Winona Lake trail system, is being pursued by the Kosciusko County Velo, which organizes Fat & Skinny.

According to the KCV website, the project will lengthen the trail system around a world-class bike park with a pump track, skills lines, and a bike playground to develop skills for riders of all ages.

KCV informed members of Grace College's support in a newsletter, but no formal announcement has been made.

Two leaders of KCV talked about the development earlier this week for In The Know, the public affairs show that airs this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations and this week highlighted plans for Fat & Skinny.

A final figure has not ben announced and fundraising continues but Mike Cursick, president of KCV, says the dollar fitgure is big enough that construction will likely begin somewhat soon.

"It's very exciting news and we think it's going to cover well over half of the construction of the bike park, but right now, we're working on our next fundraisng goals because with that grant and some additional fundraising, we believe we're going to fund the entire park," Cusick said.

He said site preparation — mainly moving dirt — is expected to happen this summer.

Design work is almost finished, but full construction will likely take a few years.

Greg Demopoulos, another member of KCV and a co-director of Fat & Skinny, said the bike park will eventually provide another component to the bike fest.

"Our hope is that we can add some events to it — something like an asphalt pump track," Demopoulos said. "There are times of the year when we have to close the trails because they're too muddy. But having an asphalt pump track allows people to use that year-round, and that also opens the door for additional events."

[caption id="attachment_109760" align="aligncenter" width="1042"] The future bike park already serves as a trailhead. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WARSAW -- As the Kosciusko County Velo organization enters its 20th year of existence, cycling enthusiasts appear to be gaining even more momentum.

The group that organizes the massive Fat and Skinny Tire Fest each May expanded its footprint last year when it announced plans for a bike park along Pierceton Road in Winona Lake and held its first Winona Lake Trails Fest.

The group promotes biking advocacy, activities and access and the two new components fit perfectly into that mission.

The bike park, which is still in the fundraising stage, is intended to provide an atmosphere where young people can learn different bike skills that prepare them for mountain bike activities.

KCV Board President Mike Cusick loves the location:

"We’re excited about it. Not only is it next to the current ten miles of trails so it makes it easy to access. But the immediate access to the greenway system, it’s just ideal,” he said.

The Club also got a boost last year when the Main Street Warsaw decided to shift Warsaw’s First Friday to the third Friday, which lines up perfectly with the annual Fat and Skinny Bike fest.

"It's perfect. It's just the perfect opportunity to bring those crowds together, and we're partnering with the chamber this year to co-host the event," he said.

Cusick, who is semi-retired from the orthopedics industry, is one of three bicycling enthusiasts who are on the new Kosciusko County Park Board, which was created last year.

The board is focusing on different types of trail systems as it works to establish a master plan in its first full year.

"There's a lot of interest and there's a lot of excitement," Cusick said. "Coming from the corporate world, sometimes I have a different perspective of time. We're moving very quickly, but I also understand the processes through the county and the government are going to take a little longer. I'm confident that this will happen."

To learn more about DCV, check out the website at KCVcycling.org or stop by their monthly meeting tonight at Mad Anthony’s in downtown Warsaw. The start time is 7:30 p.m.

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