Trine, City of Angola partner on new multipurpose trail

Area residents who like to walk, run and bike will soon have a beautiful new option for exercising outdoors while enjoying local scenery.

Trine University and the City of Angola are partnering on a new 3.5-mile recreational and nature trail that will follow the property line of the university’s Angola campus around Zollner Golf Course and along historic Fox Lake.

Construction is planned to begin this fall with the new trail opening in spring 2026.

Offering trailhead parking on Trine’s campus off Thunder Drive, the trail will be open to community members as well as university students and employees.

“The City of Angola has been home to Trine University for more than 140 years, and we’re always happy to do whatever we can to make this area a better place to live,” said Tony Kline, Ph.D., executive vice president at Trine. “This trail will provide a new venue for students and residents to improve their health while enjoying the natural beauty of our campus.”

Angola Mayor Dave Martin praised the university for its continued efforts to enhance the quality of life for the greater Angola community as well as the university.

“The T. Furth Center for Performing Arts, the Thunder Ice Arena, numerous top-tier athletic events and now this beautiful trail are all part of the package Trine University offers that allows more cultural and recreational opportunities for our residents and more amenities to attract people to this area. We’re proud to have Trine as a partner and as a cornerstone of our city,” he said.

Scenic views

Offering scenic views of Fox Lake, about 80% of the trail will wind through wooded areas with boardwalks and bridges over streams, creeks and rolling terrain.

Amenities will include mileage markers and exercise waypoints as well as security cameras, lighting and an emergency phone.

The trail will connect to the larger Poka-Bache Trail system through the City of Angola trail south of Angola. That system, when completed, will include Steuben, DeKalb, Allen and Wells counties, connecting Pokagon State Park in Angola and Ouabache State Park in Bluffton.

Trine University will oversee design and construction of the new trail, with the City of Angola ensuring connectivity to its new south trail extension.

The university has selected Butler Fairman and Seufert (BF&S) of Indianapolis to design the trail on campus.

The project will receive funding from a grant of $17.2 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its College and Community Collaboration (CCC) initiative, announced last year. The City of Angola and the university partnered on the application to receive the grant.