But that’s just the beginning. The students envision trails and bridges, a pavilion and even a lock tender’s house, among other features for a 10-acre park showcasing the circa-1838 stone lock that once functioned as part of the Wabash and Erie Canal.

Katrina Klein, Brad Chelton and Adam Weber, all members of Robert Houghtalen’s senior design course, tackled the makeover of Lock No. 47 as their senior project. A lock is a section of a canal closed off with gates for raising or lowering the water level.

The students proposed two plans, each of which would cost about $250,000.

The cost depends on whether those restoring the property want a re-created lock wall of cast-in-place concrete, or a wall of the cut stone, which is shale.

"The stone is hard to find, and you’d have to have a crane to set each stone," Weber said.

Klein said the concrete option would involve pouring the concrete into form liners, and using tinted concrete of a consistency to mimic the original lock wall.

"You shouldn’t be able to tell the difference," Weber said.

The main differences between the team’s two plans — part of the final 100-page report — are the parking arrangements and the fact that one plan puts water in the canal by rerouting a creek.

The lock restoration and recreation area project was multidisciplinary, Klein noted. Along with other subjects, it encompassed transportation, environmental issues, structural design and restoration of a historic structure.

The students began visiting the heavily wooded plot last fall to survey it. For about 2 1/2 months, they visited the site every Wednesday, Chelton noted, and the work picked up again this spring as the students wrapped up their project.

Pat Martin, chief transportation planner for the West Central Indiana Economic Development District, is seeking federal and state grant money to fund the project.

"It’s unique," Martin said. "This is an extremely valuable resource for Indiana’s history."

— Tamara S. Ayer

Terre Haute Tribune-Star