Thursday, November 19, 2009
Federal Highway Administration awards grants for HSI scenic byway projects
Contact for more information:
Brandi Schwartz Marketing Coordinator Outreach & Engagement 812/464-1854 The Ohio River Scenic Byway, a scenic byway project of Historic Southern Indiana, an outreach program of the University of Southern Indiana, covers 302 miles in Indiana from the Ohio state line to the Illinois border. Funds totaling $50,000 for an Ohio River Scenic Byway Interpretive Kiosks program will be used to build welcome stations along the stretch in Indiana and provide information to visitors about the byway. The Ohio River Scenic Byway in the adjoining states of Ohio and Illinois will produce similar projects. Indiana's Historic Pathways will receive $20,000 for the placement of official road signs along the pathway. The Y-shaped route stretches 250 miles across the southern half of Indiana, along U.S.50/ U.S. 150 from Vincennes to the town of Shoals. At that point, it forks and continues along U.S. 50 to Lawrenceburg and along U.S. 150 to the Falls of the Ohio. It was recently designated to the America's Byways® collection by the United States Department of Transportation. "Both scenic byways are fortunate to receive these grants," said Leslie Townsend, director of Historic Southern Indiana, which provides administrative support for these two byways. "Scenic byways are a source of economic development because they attract visitors to the area. The Ohio River Scenic Byway project has been a great partnership with the Hoosier National Forest and will be another way visitors can learn about things to do along the byway. The road sign project will help direct visitors along Indiana's Historic Pathways and will help residents become aware of this new National Scenic Byway. Both grants are part of the Federal Highway Administration's National Scenic Byways Program, which recognizes and provides funding for roads designated either locally or nationally as having outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, and archaeological qualities. Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has awarded almost $388 million in funding for more than 2,832 state, tribal, and nationally designated byway projects in 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. The strength of this program is the voluntary, grassroots support of local advocates in communities throughout the country who nominate and promote outstanding roads for this recognition. Historic Southern Indiana, an outreach and engagement project of USI, was created in 1986 to serve the southernmost 26 counties of Indiana. Its goals are to identify, preserve, protect, enhance, and promote the historical, natural, and recreational resources of the region. It seeks to implement those goals through programs in historic preservation, history education, heritage tourism, community development, and scenic byways. Its office is a part of Extended Services. For more information, contact Townsend at 812/465-7014. |
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