By John Grant Emeigh / Post-Tribune staff writer

MERRILLVILLE — A citizens group that wants to convert an abandoned rail corridor into a multi-use trail used some Boilermaker brainpower to bring this goal closer to reality.

A professor and five students from Purdue University’s landscape architecture school unveiled a plan for a 10-mile trail through Lake County during a presentation at the Lake County Public Library Thursday. The Calumet Citizens for Connecting Communities, also known as C4, commissioned the class to come up with a plan and design for the trail in January.

Professor Bernie Dahl said the project gives his students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned and also help the community. The trail, which was proposed by C4, would begin in Griffith and continue southeastward — meandering through several communities along the way — to the Lake/Porter county line.

“We’ve study the route and identified problems and opportunities throughout the entire corridor,” Dahl said.

The students presented slides and aerial photographs of the proposed trail, which would be built along the abandoned C&O rail corridor.

Rodney Graves, a spokesman for C4, said a cost hasn’t been set for the trail, which is merely in its planning stages. Graves said the goal is to generate public enthusiasm for the project and hopefully pick up funding for the project later.

“We have to take this vision to the people. It can be done,” Graves, an avid cyclist, said.

If established, this trail could offer a safe, off-road link for pedestrians and bicyclists to access the largest commercial areas in region, Graves explained. In one part along the proposed trail, the students designed it to cross over U.S. 30 and go through the Westfield Shopping Town mall lot. The trail would continue to link up with the Lakes of the Four Seasons and Winfield area.

About 15 people attended the presentation.

Dahl admitted the project seemed daunting, but it could be done with strong support from the community. He added that, if successful, it will enhance the area and be an example to other communities.

“This is something that people will say, 'They did it in Merrillville, why can’t we do it here?’,” he said.

Reporter John Emeigh can be reached at 648-3079 or by e-mail at [email protected].