Give to Michigan Trails

It’s full steam ahead for Michigan’s cross-state trails, where we continue to progress on closing the gaps. 

Look for a 2018 official opening of the Great Lake to Lake Trail, a cross-state trail project we began in 2007.  The route in 2018 will most likely be about 75 percent off-road path and the rest on-road bicycle friendly facilities, but the goal, much like the ever-changing Appalachian Trail route in the eastern US, will be to tweak the route as alternatives for improved safety, new off-road options or increased opportunities for scenic beauty and other trail enhancements arise along the route. It is a good route with 15 existing off-road trails, but it will continue to improve as visitors use it and communities experience its health, transportation, and economic benefits.  In the meantime, we are embarking on a signage project, providing Great Lake to Lake Trail identification that helps to brand this 250+ mile trail but at the same time coordinates the signage together with the Iron Belle portion of the trail and all the individual trails’ existing names and logos.   

As Governor Snyder winds down his term in 2018, there will be several benchmark ribbon-cuttings completing connections for his cross-state legacy project, the Iron Belle Trail.  MTGA has been delighted to play a role in determining how to close the gaps in this 2,064 mile trail.  You will remember that this trail offers two routes, a 1,273 mile trek for hiking and a 791 mile course for bicycling, all the way from Belle Isle up to the Mackinac Bridge and across the Upper Peninsula to Ironwood.  Expect the following gaps along the biking trail to be closed in the next two years: a Paint Creek to Polly Ann Trail connection, Atlas Township to Grand Blanc path completion, the Grand Traverse Greenway in Flint, Flint River Trail to Southern Links Trail gap closure, Oscoda to Hale Pathway, Higgins Lake Pathway and a trail connection in Gladstone.

Before or during 2018, the hiking trail should see the following connections made:  The Detroit Riverwalk segment along the site formerly owned by Uniroyal Corporation, an extension of the Albion River Trail through Albion College campus, and sections of the North Country National Scenic Trail stabilized near Kalamazoo, East Jordan, Bear River Pedestrian Bridge in Petoskey, improved boardwalk near Tahquamenon Falls State Park, a bridge over the Blind Sucker River in Luce County, repair of the bridge at Laughing Whitefish Falls, the Marquette section of the NCT, and in Ontonagon, construction of a trail on the way to O Kun de Kun Falls, and 2 new bridges at Bush Creek and Little Iron River.  MTGA has also been instrumental in setting up a way for the Iron Belle Trail to receive private donations to match the public grants that communities need to complete their segments throughout the state as quickly as possible.

But just making trail to trail connections is not enough for Michigan’s nonmotorized trails.  Trails should provide an unparalleled safe and enjoyable trail user experience.  In order to attract trail users on a world-wide scale, the towns along the routes will become “trail towns”, by connecting trails to their downtowns, providing wayfinding to amenities and other trail user services, interpreting nature and history along their trail, incorporating  trails into their festivals and events, and other strategic enhancements.  MTGA is leading the way, along with Michigan Parks and Recreation and the Land Information Access Association, to help towns and villages in this work.  We will provide the know-how, both online and in person to assist.

Trail maintenance funding is another MUST for Michigan’s trails to keep them in tiptop shape for residents’ and visitors’ use.  It’s important for safety from physical hazards, safety from crime (a maintained trail signals vigilance and deters wrongdoing), protection of the trails investment from nature’s elements, and safekeeping of its beauty.  Many communities today tell us they have only the bare minimum with which to maintain their trails and it’s dependent on the undulating state of their local economy.  Trail users, on the other hand, often indicate a willingness to chip in in some way, to keep the system going for their and future generation’s use.  MTGA is sorting through an abundance of ideas and programs that will help the financial resources and volunteer manpower to keep a system that is worthy of the ranking as the #1 trail state in the nation!  We are working on generating possible new funding sources as well as the start up of new volunteer programs to help with trail maintenance.  As we have seen in several areas of the state, trail volunteers, once engaged, are our best ambassadors.  They keep the trails looking great, add new improvements, such as benches, gardens, and signage, and often generate donations and additional volunteers through their impassioned and steadfast commitment to their trails.  MTGA’s aim is to foster the startup of more of these programs, for volunteers are the lifeblood of our trail system!

To sum it up, the trails movement in Michigan is maturing to its full value through MTGA’s leadership and expertise in conjunction with our partners at state and local levels.  However, we need an extra boost at this time of year to continue to address today’s trail needs and into the future because the work requires our small staff’s in-depth groundwork and commitment.   

If you enjoy your local trail, remember it took a lot of advocacy, know-how and dollars to put it on the ground.  Don’t let it or any of Michigan’s abundant system of nonmotorized trails go to waste through inability to connect to other trails or destinations, sub-par maintenance or ignorance of the benefits that trails provide each and every day.  Let’s maximize the investment of so many people and resources that put them together in the first place and help MTGA to lead Michigan to new standards of nonmotorized trail excellence. 

Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance is the only statewide group working everyday all day to build, connect, promote, and protect our state’s nonmotorized trails.  We count on your support to help us continue this important work.