The OSSIS Project on the Erie Trail
Our Solar System in Scale
Our Solar System in Scale (“OSSIS”) depicts with signage the
planets of our solar system at a scale of 1:355 million on the
Erie Trail.The Starke County Community Foundation funded the
OSSIS project through a Lilly Endowment grant. The Constellation
of Starke Creative Network opened the OSSIS project in October
2022.
The project keystone is the Archway of the Sun (El Sol) which was
placed near the southwestern trailhead of the Erie Trail on Main
Street in North Judson. The Community Foundation announced on
December 16, 2024 that the Archway of The Sun had been
installed. Below are images of the Archway taken in February
2025. The image on the left faces southeast toward the Planet
models. The image on the right faces northwest toward the Town of
North Judson.
There is a parking area along Main Street and just a few feet from
the Archway.
Models for the Planets were already in place before the Archway of
the Sun was completed. The most distant Planet model is for
Neptune and is located on the Erie Trail between Starke County
Road 800 South and US Highway 35, nearly nine miles from the
Archway. The Neptune model is a 1/2 mile walk northwest from a
parking area on US 35.
The Prairie Trails Club has received numerous requests for the
placement of a model for the Dwarf Planet, Pluto. The hope is that
these requests can be met before the end of 2025. If so, the Pluto
model would be placed on the Erie Trail about 1/5 mile northwest of
a trailhead and parking area at Starke County Road 700 East. The
site for the planned Pluto model would be almost eleven miles from
the Archway of the Sun.
Below, Jacque Ryan, SCCF Director of Development, stands next
to the top of the Archway of the Sun while the project was still in the construction phase.
Martin Lucas inspired and designed the project. Bob Aloi surveyed
the Sun and Planet locations and provided engineering services.
Steindler Signs & Graphix manufactured the Sun model, and
Outstanding Tradeshow Exhibit Services (OTES) manufactured the
Planet models.
