Pennsy Trail in Hancock County is a busy place with many interesting activities for all ages. What do you like
to do? Shop, walk, enjoy food and music. The 12th Annual Pennsy Trail Art and Music Festival may be just the
place to go. The festival will be held on Saturday, June 28th from 10am till 6pm on the Pennsy Trail in Historic
Downtown Greenfield. The best part is the event is free to park and attend. The Pennsy Trail event can also be
accessed by bikers and walkers at the trail head located at 150 W. For more information see
www.pennsytrailartfair.com.
The Cumberland Art Goes to Market will hosts their annual art fair for the 6th year and draws 100 artists, crafts
vendors, 50 farmers market vendors, and entertainers of all types on 2 live stages. This event will be held
Saturday, August 14, 2014 – 9 am till 4 pm. Art, food, music, and dance provide a wonderful community event.
Can’t miss the event while driving through Cumberland on East Washington Street. The Pennsy Trail provides
space for families and art lovers alike. Parking and admission is free. The Pennsy Trail connection for walkers
and cyclist will be completed in time for the festival for access at 600 W. See www.cumberlandarts.org.
The Pennsy Trail group has been working to connect the gap between these two communities, and to link
communities in Philadelphia and Spring Lake. Supporters include the Cumberland Town Council, Greenfield Parks
Department, Greenfield Chamber of Commerce, and Hancock County Economic Development. The purpose of
Friends of the Hancock County Pennsy Trails is to encourage the development of a walk/bike trail in Hancock
County along the National Road Heritage Trail.
The group has established a relationship with the Hoosier Environmental Council to gain support to connect the
4.5 mile gap to link the communities. Once constructed, residents who currently drive vehicles may be able to
use non-motorized transportation on the trail for activities such as shopping, going to work, and attending
community events. This section of the Hoosier Road Heritage Trail can be linked across the state and to other
trails, such as the Monon, and link 30 communities over 150 miles. See www.nrht.org for more information on
this 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit trail group from Central Indiana.
Activities seen on the trail include walkers, bicyclist, roller-bladers, skate boarders, and on some special areas
of the trail, horseback riders. The trail in Hancock County resembles a park environment and attracts wildlife.
The Cumberland section has stops for each planet. The Greenfield section will soon have a community box for
a book swap. The trail provides access for physical activity to reduce chronic diseases from hypertension and
obesity. The tourism potential and the increase in home values adds to the overall ability to increase the
infrastructure of these Hancock County communities.
Wietbrock is a resident of New Palestine, Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, VP of Trails Group, Land
Steward of Schramm Woods Nature Preserve located in Sugar Creek Township, and Community Wildlife
Habitat leader in New Palestine. She can be reached at mawietbrock@yahoo.com.
