Our Mission
The mission of the Poka-Bache coalition is to complete the State Visionary Trail between Pokagon State Park and Ouabache State Park by fostering equitable collaboration, coordination, and cooperation between public and private entities in northeast Indiana.
About
Traveling through four counties in northeast Indiana, the Poka-Bache Connector trail will connect Pokagon State Park in Angola as the northernmost point down to Ouabache (pronounced as Wabash) State Park in Bluffton to the south. The 81-mile connector trail will join Steuben, DeKalb, Allen, and Wells counties through a multiuse trail that offers both recreational and transportation opportunities, while connecting to other trail networks in the respective counties. Once complete, it will be one of the longest connected trail routes in Indiana.
This trail, which was initially proposed in 2006 and has constructed and future sections, goes through seven cities and towns. When complete, the Poka-Bache Connector will link more than 121,000 people, 140 recreational areas, 10 libraries, and 50 schools within a mile of the trail. The Poka-Bache Connector is part of the United Trails Plan, which covers 12 northeast Indiana counties to provide an interconnected trail network within and between communities.
Our Vision
The Poka-Bache Coalition envisions a complete and uniform State Visionary Trail from Pokagon State Park to Ouabache State Park which will improve northeast Indiana residents’ health and wellness, spur economic development, improve access to the natural environment, and attract tourism.
Poka-Bache Trail Coalition
The Poka-Bache Trail Coalition is comprised of a group of community-minded individuals from Allen County, DeKalb County, Steuben County and Wells County. The Poka-Bache Trail Coalition’s mission is to complete the State Visionary Trail between Pokagon State Park and Ouabache State Park by fostering equitable collaboration, coordination, and cooperation between public and private entities in northeast Indiana. The coalition envisions a complete and uniform trail that will improve northeast Indiana residents’ health and wellness, spur economic development, improve access to the natural environment, and attract tourism.
Certain members of the coalition are the official Poka-Bache Task Force member. The task force was created in 2023 with an interlocal agreement between the eleven jurisdictions that will help plan, build and operate the trail. Each jurisdiction has one official appointment to the task force which makes up the governing body with official voice and vote. Members listed below with an asterisk behind their name are the official task force appointees.
Coalition Members
Dan Avery
NIRCC
Andy Barrand*
City of Auburn
Jon Bomberger
Fort Wayne Trails
Dale Brier
DNR
Kent Castleman
Fort Wayne Trails
Amanda Cope
City of Angola
Eric Ditmars
City of Auburn
Lara Dorsett
County of Allen
Michael Galbraith
Regional Dev. Authority
Chris Gaumer
County of DeKalb
Sue Glick
State of Indiana
Shan Gunawardena
City of Fort Wayne
Bill Hartman*
County of Allen
Pam Howard*
Town of Waterloo
Jason Kaiser
INDOT
Mike Kelly
Fort Wayne Trails
Kellie Knauer
City of Auburn
Andy Laughlin*
County of Steuben
Mike Lautzenheiser*
County of Wells
John Longenecker
Steuben County Trails
Luann Martin
Town of Ossian
Steve McDaniel
City of Fort Wayne
Matt Peters
NIRCC
Chip Porter
Steuben County
Rick Ring
County of DeKalb
Dawn Ritchie*
City of Fort Wayne
Rory Robinson
National Parks Service
Jennifer Sharkey
Steuben County Trails
Brent Shull
Town of Hamilton
Bill Spohn
Auburn/Waterloo Trails
Brett Steele*
City of Angola
Janet Stronczek*
City of Bluffton
Hannah Walker*
Town of Huntertown
Mike Watson*
County of DeKalb
John Whicker
City of Bluffton & Wells
Glen Werling*
City of Ossian
Patrick Zaharako
City of Fort Wayne
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES
Poke-Bache Task Force
201 S. Jackson Street #24 • Auburn, IN 46706-9998
[email protected]
© Poka-Bache Connector Trail. All rights reserved.