USI-Burdette Trail officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 13.

The USI-Burdette Trail was designated as a National Recreation Trail by the Secretary of the Interior in 2008 and is a part of the American Discovery Trail that passes through Indiana as part of the “Crossroad of America.”

The three-mile trail begins at USI, between the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center (RFWC) and the Physical Activities Center, and ends, at Burdette Park by the Discovery Lodge.

Sodexo employee Debby Morris said she uses the trail for convenience to deliver food for concessions that Sodexo provides. She said she uses the trail anywhere from two or three times a week to once or twice a month depending on the schedule.

The trail takes five to 10 minutes off her travel time to get concessions to the soccer fields, Morris said.

“I constantly see people walking with their children and walking their dogs in day and night,” Morris said. “Other than that, you know, I’m too lazy to use it.”

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony today Morris served refreshments with Yo Ren Lo, junior Food and Nutrition Dietetics major.

Lo served cider and cookies as a part of the lab for his nutrition class, he said.

Lo said he saw a lot of people come for the ceremony and that everybody looked happy. He has not used the path yet, but he will use it in the future because it is really pretty.

“I think it (the trail) gives the much needed connection to the outside community and to USI,” said Jon Bosley, Intramurals director. “I mean, the connection really (allows) the community and college to really connect, and that’s what you see – a lot of community members go all the way to college and back.”

Bosley uses the trail three to four times a week and is an avid cyclist, he said.

Bosley said it gives people the chance to get exercise and is a perfect length for novices and experienced people.

 The RFWC offers bikes for free for students and faculty to check out. There is also more information on the trail available in the RFWC.

 The trail opens at dawn and closes at dusk.

 Next semester, there will be organized rides to go on the trail, Bosley said.