SB to ND: The Link Trail connects downtown South Bend to Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- South Bend and Notre Dame leaders celebrated the completion of The Link Trail Thursday morning with a stroll and ribbon-cutting. The new, 1.5-mile, paved pathway connects the university to downtown.

"I think that the neighborhood has changed for the better," said Luella Webster.

Webster, 73 years old, lives in South Bend near the University of Notre Dame.

"It has been my neighborhood for 71 years," she said.

She joined city and university leaders Thursday as they cut the ribbon on the completed Link Trail, a paved and lighted path connecting SB to ND.

"Literally, as well as figuratively, connects the university to downtown South Bend," said Jeff Jarnecke, Visit South Bend Mishawaka executive director.

The small crowd walked part of the trail Thursday morning, celebrating the symbolism of this joint venture.

"It's about more than just this path, it's about all the ways we are linked," said University of Notre Dame President, Father Bob Dowd. "This is just a wonderful manifestation of what it means to build bridges."

Bridging the institution with downtown South Bend.

"I'm proud to say the connection, the actual connection between the city and the university, has never been stronger," said South Bend Mayor James Mueller.

The full project includes improvements to walker and biker safety.

"[You] don't have to go out on the streets, in fact, it's a wider sidewalk," Jarnecke said. "At each intersection, as well, they're clearly marked, and many of them have a raised intersection so that it becomes a built-in speed bump."

It includes new street parking; the road was narrowed allowing for a wider pathway that can accommodate more people, bikes, strollers, etc. It also includes new street lights.

"Should you be out in the evening time," Jernecke said, "then there are plenty of lights."

The trail is meant to help drive foot traffic, and in turn, the economy.

The full investment (trail, street lights, road improvements, landscaping, etc.) is approximately $11 million, split in thirds between the city, the university, and the Hotel Tax Board via Visit South Bend Mishawaka.

"Even though we haven't changed the physical distance between downtown south bend and the university, it will feel closer for folks," Mueller said. "And so, whether it's students going downtown or others from south bend going to the university, it will make those exchanges a lot easier."

And for Luella Webster, she sees life coming back to a community that she says lost its neighborly feel for years.

"It kind of reminds me of back when I was growing up," she said, "when neighbors were neighbors, and kids played together, and you go to each other's house for Sunday meals."

The full trail is one and a half miles; about a 30-minute walk.