Agreement to purchase land

Nearly 60 landowners between Sturgis and Coldwater have agreed to purchase about 16 miles of land to prevent it from becoming a rails-to-trails recreation path.

The Indiana Northeastern Railroad was informed last week that adjacent landowners to its abandoned railroad bed have agreed to pool their money and make the property purchase. A group called Friends of the Tamarack Rail Trail Inc. had been in discussions with the railroad to buy the land and develop a recreational trail between the two communities.

The property owners have expressed concerns about compromised safety and privacy of such a trail, while farmers have questioned the impact a recreational trail would have on their ability to irrigate their land.

A dollar amount for the purchase has not been publically disclosed.