Eli Lilly Gift Funds $3.1 Million Hartford City Trail Extension

From the Blackford County Council meeting on July 8, 2026

The Blackford County Community Foundation received a $3.1 million gift from Eli Lilly to fund a 1.3-mile extension of the Hartford City Trail, Economic Development Director Warren Brown announced.

Bid documents are being finalized. A meeting was held on July 8 to work through final details. Hartford City agreed to let the project use the city attorney, with the city covering legal costs so the gift money is preserved for construction.

More than $100,000 of the $3.1 million has been set aside for a maintenance and sustainability fund. Once the trail is completed, it will be turned over to the Hartford City Parks Department along with the maintenance fund.

Brown noted that trails are "a whole lot more expensive than they want to be," with the bulk of the funding going to construction. If surplus funds remain, the Community Foundation could provide additional maintenance support.

Residents who use the existing Hartford City Trail will eventually have access to an additional 1.3 miles of connected pathway.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County - County Council Meeting - July 08, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.