A new multi-use trail at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis for mountain bikers and hikers will be dedicated and officially opened during a ceremony at the park on Oct. 7 at 11 a.m.

The event will be held near the park office and the trailhead. The public is invited. No gate fee will be charged for those attending the event.

The trail was designed and the trail builders led by Hoosier Mountain Bike Association vice president Mike Hufhand. HMBA volunteers donated 4,000 hours of time working on trail construction. Called the Schoen Creek Trail, the park’s new feature is approximately 3 miles long.

“These folks (HMBA) are great partners in trail design and construction,” said Ginger Murphy, assistant director for stewardship for DNR State Parks & Reservoirs. “They build trails that are sustainable, trails designed to handle to runoff from rainfall without erosion and trails that can be used for years to come.”

HMBA president Paul Arlinghaus praised the work of volunteers in completing the project.

“The amazing thing is that all the work done to build the trail was done by volunteers,” Arlinghaus said. “HMBA counts on volunteers and donations to build great trails throughout the state.”

Murphy said common courtesy will be required between hikers and mountain bikers for the multi-use trail to work properly and asked users to avoid the trail on muddy days.

An additional 4 miles will be constructed and opened in the Lawrence Creek area of the park over course of the next year.

The state park is at 5753 Glen Road (E. 59th Street and N. Post Road) in Indianapolis. The office phone number is (317) 591-0904. Gate admission is normally $5 per in-state vehicle or $7 per out-of-state vehicle per day.