Project seeks to light up river path

To the editor:

The Jay County Trails Club is excited to share some wonderful news with our community.

Recently, the Portland City Council unanimously approved Jay County Trails to move forward with a lighting enhancement project along the RiverPath Trail.

Dedicated by the City of Portland in 2009, the RiverPath Trail is a paved, tree-lined pathway that follows the Salamonie River, connecting Meridian Street to Wayne Street, linking Hudson Family Park to Freedom Park and providing pedestrian access to downtown. For those unfamiliar with the area, the trail runs along the south side of the East Jay Elementary School parking lot and is used daily by students and residents alike.

Even so, the trail often goes unnoticed. It offers peaceful river views and glimpses of wildlife, yet its subtle presence has kept it from becoming the inviting space it could be. With simple, thoughtful string lighting, we believe this overlooked stretch can become something truly special — a place that feels safer, warmer and more inviting for everyone who uses it. As people enter Portland near the Arch Bridge, this new lighting will create a beautiful first impression. The soft glow along the river will warmly welcome residents and visitors alike, beautifully highlighting our RiverPath Trail.

Our vision includes the installation of black posts with overhead string lighting to gently illuminate the trail, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that encourages people to walk and gather. Beyond improving safety, this lighting opens the pathway to new opportunities to enjoy and experience the trail in meaningful ways.

String lighting over the pathway creates space for evening walks, community events, and moments that bring people together. Many of us caught a glimpse of that magic last fall during Michelle Goldman’s Bridge Dinner, when the lighting of the green bridge reminded us how powerful a thoughtfully designed space can be.

We are delighted to share that the Jay County Trails Club will cover the cost of materials for the lighting project, with funds already secured through The Portland Foundation. We are also looking forward to working collaboratively with the city street department to help with the installation to bring this vision to life.

As the project moves forward, we invite community members, schools and local businesses to join us in making this space beautiful. Opportunities will be available to contribute through donations, volunteer time, materials, services or helping with future enhancements like landscaping, benches and other beautification efforts. We hope that this becomes a project our entire community can take pride in.

If you would like to contribute now, please make donations to The Portland Foundation, with “Trails Club Riverwalk Project” listed in the memo line.

This initiative builds upon the city’s investment in our trail system and reflects a shared desire to create spaces that strengthen connection, safety, and quality of life in Portland. We are grateful for the mayor and city council’s support and excited to work alongside our community as we move ahead. This lighting project will bring more visibility, safety and beauty to one of our community’s outdoor spaces. Evening strolls will feel warmer and more welcoming, and the trail will better connect our parks, neighborhoods and downtown.

This is the first chapter of a much bigger vision — and we’re just getting started.

Stay tuned. We’ll be sharing how you can be part of bringing this project to life

Sincerely,

Jenny Bricker

On behalf of the Jay County Trails Club