Local United Way Works to Make Dearborn Trail More Family Friendly

A series of twelve signs, installed by the Lawrenceburg Parks Department, make the trail a Born to Learn trail.

Sign installation along the Dearborn Trail. Photo provided.

(Dearborn County, Ind.) - Thanks to the United Way and the generosity of several local partners, improvements to the Dearborn County Trail just made it much more family friendly and fun.

A series of twelve signs, installed by the Lawrenceburg Parks Department, make the trail a Born to Learn trail, which encourages parents and caregivers to listen, engage, and share with children while enjoying the beauty of the trail. Each sign, posted along the trail in clearly visible locations, prompts adults to interact with children, to hop, laugh, sing, and tell stories.

Some highlight Indiana’s state bird, the state flower, and the state tree. One sign encourages kids to “Pretend to move like an animal” and “walk backwards.” Another says, “Listen to the birds. Ask, what are they saying? Can you sing like them?” Others invite trail-goers to hold hands, ask questions, or play games, making the experience more family-oriented.

United Way Regional Director Karen Snyder said the new signs will, “Create quality engagement opportunities when folks are out on a stroll.”

The project, funded through the United Way, was made possible with grants from The Knights of Columbus Council 1231, the Lawrenceburg Kiwanis, The Lions Club International of Lawrenceburg, and Kelsey Chevrolet.

The Dearborn County Trail, which stretches 4.5 miles along the Ohio River, connects Aurora, Greendale, and Lawrenceburg, the county’s three largest cities, with a well-paved path through woods and wetlands as well as over creeks and through the historic district of Lawrenceburg, from Lesko Park in Aurora to Hollywood Casino in Greendale. The path features a dog park, restrooms, picnic areas, and bicycle rentals and is made for walking, running, biking, and rollerblading.

Installation of the signs and general upgrades to the trail were provided by Brian Brookes, Blake Collins, Tyler Granger, Ben Munoz Tony Satchwill and supervised by Brad Massey, all from the City of Lawrenceburg Parks Department.