The Burdette Park-University of Southern Indiana Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Nature Trail has been designated as a National Recreation Trail by the Secretary of the Interior.

The Burdette Park-USI Trail is a scenic .6-mile segment, the result of a visionary partnership to eventually provide a non-motorized trail connection between the University and Burdette Park. When complete, the trail is projected to be a total of 2.5 miles from Discovery Lodge to USI, allowing students, faculty, and staff access to Burdette Park and 32 miles of bike routes.

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced June 7 that 24 trails in 16 states have been designated as new National Recreation Trails, adding more than 1,100 miles of trails to the National Trails System. Each of the new trails will receive a certificate of designation and trail markers and join a network of more than 1,000 trails encompassing more than 12,000 miles.

"One of my priorities at Interior is to reconnect American families to nature," said Kempthorne. "The National Trails System, including these additions, provides an excellent link to the outdoors, particularly for children. National Recreation Trails exemplify partnerships and are providing a path to fitness and stewardship for Americans of all ages."

The National Recreation Trails Program is jointly administered by the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program and the U.S. Forest Service in conjunction with a number of other federal and nonprofit partners, notably American Trails, which hosts the National Recreation Trail Web site.