MSU Students Connect with Communities for Trails

MSU students Trail Building, Law and Policy class (photo from MSU, )

from College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University

Students in the Trail Building, Law and Policy course in Michigan State's Department of Community Sustainability, have completed a four-year project requiring them to design a trail plan specific to the needs of communities in Michigan.

Instructor Bob Wilson, former Senior Counsel to the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental affairs committee and executive director of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, now identifies communities seeking assistance in trail planning and development. He coordinates with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and more than a dozen communities in Michigan are on a waiting list for the next semester of students.

The students help local authorities develop master trail plans, and their final project is to present a complete document to community leaders.

"The community gets the benefit of a well-done trail plan, and the students learn how their work can impact a community in terms of quality of life and access to trails," Wilson said.

In 2025, students aided the following Michigan areas: Charlevoix, Cassopolis, Sault Ste. Marie, Calhoun County and Clearwater Township.

See more at Michigan Students Partner with Communities


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Events Calendar to be Discontinued

from jhy

Sorry, folks, I can't keep up the news and the calendar. It's just too much work. I will try to highlight some of the major events that come along.


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Coopersville Fundraiser for North Bank Trail

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North Bank Trail (photo from TrailLink)

compiled from several sources

The former Grand Trunk Western Railroad right- of-way from Spring Lake to Marne, Michigan, is being transformed to become the North Bank Trail. A seven mile stretch from the Village of Spring Lake to a Trailhead on 112th Avenue in Nunica has been completed and provides connections to other regional trails including the Lakeside Trail in Spring Lake and the Spoonville Trail in Crockery Township. The Spoonville Trail offers access to the South Side of the Grand River where it meets up with Grand River Explorers Trail. It also links to local pathways in Spring Lake Township and Ferrysburg offering a connection to US Bike Route 35 running along Michigan’s west coast from New Buffalo to Sault Saint Marie.

Future phases of the North Bank Trail will connect Nunica to Coopersville and the Musketawa Trailhead on 8th Avenue in Marne. Ultimately the trail will be a regional link between the beaches of Lake Michigan and the Grand Rapids Metro Area.

On March 5, the city of Coopersville is hosting the Celebrate Coopersville fundraiser for their section of the trail. For $40, attendees will receive complimentary food and entertainment from Main Street Dueling Pianos. A cash bar will also be available. Raffles and a silent auction will also raise funds.

Other funds for this section have come from a Transportation Alternatives Program grant from the state of Michigan

See Friends of the North Bank Trail


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Palmer Woods Bicycle Trails

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new Palmer Woods trail (photo by Pat S.)

from Singletracks.com

It took seven years, but the full 24-mile trail system at Palmer Woods in Leelanau County, Michigan, was completed in 2025.

The Leelanau Conservancy has spent about $10 million to build these trails with ecological restoration and sustainability in mind. The money came entirely from local sources. The land was acquired from a timber company where logging had taken place for 40 years. The Conservancy purchased the 1,155 acres which is surrounded on three sides by Sleeping Bear Dunes.

The forest will be preserved and the majority of the trails are dedicated to mountain biking. It's being hailed as one of the best singletrack bike trails in Michigan.

The bicycle trails are machine-built, and range from beginner loops to "white knuckle" as described by Justin Simpson, Director of Progressive Trails for West Michigan Mountain Biking Association. The intermediate trails are mostly one way, with the direction of travel alternating on successive days.

Caleb Garone, Land Steward for the Leelanau Conservancy, says "the Lion’s Mane Trail has a lot of really interesting dirt jump shapes. There’s [been] quite a bit of rock added for some downhill kickers."

Separate trails for hiking and cross-country skiing have also been built, ensuring that no user group's expectations will be compromised. The Conservancy emphasises that there is a strong commitment to ecological sustainability and diversity.

See maps at the Leelanau Conservancy


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Grand River's Rapids to be Restored

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low head dam on the Grand River (photo from the EPA)

from a news article at MLive

Work will begin in the summer of 2026 to remove the four dams on the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. This will restore the rapids, the historic source of the city's name.

Each dam is low, but they have effectively smoothed the river surface. However, the strong hydraulic force at each dam makes recreational uses unsafe. Removal will return the waterway to a more natural state and recreational opportunities such as kayaking, tubing, angling, and wading will once again be possible.

Over 100 boulders will be placed in the river to improve habitat for fish. The primary goal of the project is to restore aquatic habitat diversity and suitability for native Great Lakes fish and mussel species.

Ah-Nab-Awen Park will be closed for two years during the construction, as it will be used for staging. Total cost of the project will be about $26 million.

See more at Michigan Public Radio


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Featured - Grass River Natural Area

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boardwalk at Grass River Natural Area (photo from Grass River website)

from Grass River Natural Area

Grass River Natural Area in Antrim County, Michigan, features both accessible and single-track trails, with considerable lengths of boardwalk through marsh areas.

The 0.3-mile Sedge Meadow Boardwalk from the Grass River Center to markers 16, 17, and the Dock is now an ADA accessible boardwalk and opened in fall 2024. An additional 0.25 mile loop from markers 15, 18, 13, and 14 was replaced in 2018. Packed gravel trails provide access from the Grass River Center to the boardwalks. In late summer of 2025 replacement of the remainder of the Sedge Meadow Boardwalk Loop was completed. Fern Boardwalk Loop will be rebuilt in 2026.

Seven miles of trails weave through the natural area and all provide easy walking. Gravel trails around the Grass River Center provide easy access to the Center. Boardwalks covering the Sedge Meadow and Fern Trails provide accessibility to wetland flora and fauna and are wheelchair friendly. The Woodland, Chippewa, Nipissing, Algonquin, and Rail Trails are upland forested dirt footpaths.

Pets and bicycles are allowed only on some of the trails.

There are paddling opportunities on the Grass River, Lake Bellaire, and Clam Lake.

Some trails are groomed for skiing in winter and the main parking lot is plowed in winter.

An all-natural playground for children opened in 2025.

See maps and more info at Grass River Natural Area


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60-Mile Marquette Greenway Will Connect New Buffalo to Chicago

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Marquette Greenway map (from Berrien Trails)

from Berrien Trails

Imagine being able to ride your bike safely from Chicago all the way to New Buffalo or to spend a sunny afternoon hiking from Michigan City to New Buffalo and back. Dozens of volunteers have been working on this project for over a decade to make this dream a reality.

The Marquette Greenway is an ambitious project. The goal is to finish a regional, non-motorized greenway which will span about 60 miles in length along the south shore of Lake Michigan from Calumet Park in Chicago to downtown New Buffalo, Michigan. Residents throughout the region have long been hoping for an uninterrupted trail connecting these three states and providing access to a wide variety of destinations along the lakefront.

A ribbon cutting was held on April 25, 2025 for his first section of the trail in Michigan. There are almost 40 miles of trail completed of the 60-mile trail that will connect New Buffalo to East Chicago.

Read the full article at the link above.


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Outdoor Access Draws Employees to West Michigan

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hikers on a trail bridge (photo by jhy)

from an article in Rural Innovation Exchange

Outdoor recreation is more than just fun. The Rural Innovation Exchange says it reflects community values and the lifestyle residents can develop.

Regional leaders say that trails, greenways, and outdoor access are a critical part of West Michigan’s efforts to attract people and employers and ensure long-term vitality. In fact, these three types of perks are often in the top requests from people seeking to relocate to a different area.

Lakeshore Advantage, a Michigan economic development organization seving Ottawa and Allegan Counties, says the emerging workforce (18-34 year olds) consistently places outdoor access in their top three desires for places to move to. Lakeshore Advantage spokeswoman Kelly Wandell says, "the question of “why move here” is becoming more comprehensive."

People want more than a job. They want to find a place to raise a family and create an identity. Lake Michigan is a huge draw, but nearby trails, organized outdoor activities and wilder places are also highly sought after.

Wandel emphasizes connectivity and the expanded opportunities created by trail connections.

See the full article at Trails as talent magnet: Outdoor access is key part of West Michigan’s ‘why here’ conversation


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Little Traverse Wheelway Repair Still Uncertain

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collapsed Little Traverse Wheelway (photo from City of Petoskey Parks and Recreation)

complied from several sources

A portion of the Little Traverse Wheelway collapsed into Little Traverse Bay in 2020. Now, five years later, some serious discussion is finally underway about repairing what has been nicknamed "the Miracle Mile."

The Little Traverse Wheelway is a multi-use pathway that connects Harbor Springs, Michigan with Charlevoix. The damage occurred due to water erosion from high Lake Michigan levels in 2020, and the repair could cost $20 million. Most of that would be the expense of 100,000 tons of stone to stabilize the eroded bank.

In October, 2025, the city of Petoskey held an open house to initiate public input on a possible rebuilding of the trail. Top of Michigan Trails Council Executive Director Brent Bolin reported that the trail has about 116,000 users each year and generates about $10 million in economic activity. So this missing piece is really impacting the area. The collapsed section is between Petoskey and Bay Harbor.

Baird Engineering is preparing a plan, but so far the project is unfunded. Construction could take as much as two years once it is begun.



See an article atUp North Live


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The Lone Star Tick Now in Michigan

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caption (photo by James Gathany, Public Health Image Library, public domain)

compiled from several sources

The Lone Star Tick (also called northeastern water tick). Amblyomma americanum is now confirmed in Michigan. Berrien County in particular has seen a population develop, although it has been seen in most of southern Michigan.

This is significant because it is a regular carrier of Ehrlichiosis and is the primary vector for Alpha-gal Syndrome—a severe, newly recognized condition where the tick's saliva triggers a lifelong, sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction to mammalian meat (beef, pork, lamb). It does not transmit Lyme disease.

The females display the central white spot on the back while males may have smaller dispersed spots around the perimeter.

While it's common to talk about seeing ticks come out around a particular date, it's more reliable to look at the thermometer. If the weather hits 50° you should expect to see ticks emerging and looking for a blood meal.

And, one rarely feels a tick bite. Their saliva include and anesthetic, anticoagulants and antihistimines that work to keep you from feeling the bite or having an immediate itching reaction. Once they do puncture the skin, the anticoagulant keeps your blood flowing. So don't forget to start visually checking for attached ticks if the weather becomes mild and the leaf litter where they over-winter is exposed.

See Lone Star Tick on Wikipedia


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City of Wyoming Commits to Non-Motorized Trails

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map of Wyoming, MI, City Center Trails (from their website)

from the City of Wyoming

The city of Wyoming, Michigan, southwest of Grand Rapids, has completed 4.6 miles of a trail network that was connected with the pedestrian bridge over 28th St. They are committed to providing options for nonmotorized mobility.

This includes the following trail types:
• Offstreet Trail - Multi-use path that does not run adjacent to any roads, typically 8 - 12 feet wide.
• Traditional Bike Lane - Separated, onstreet bike lane marked by paint, typically 4 - 6 feet wide.
• Semi Protected Bike Lane - Separated, onstreet bike lane marked by paint and protected by bollards or a curb, typically 4 - 6 feet wide.
• Side Path - Multi-use path running along a roadway, at least 6 feet wide.

Their website states, "An extensive trail network gives mobility to those who lack car transportation, increases the use of non-motorized transport, and connects people to nearby parks and commercial activities."

This portion of the trail system, as a part of the City Center project, is 100% grant funded and does not involve city property tax dollar revenue.



See link above for additional maps and pictures


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Muskegon Lake Removed from "Most Degraded" List

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restored Muskegon Lake (photo from NOAA)

from NOAA

In September 2025, Muskegon Lake was officially removed from the EPA’s Areas of Concern list. 40 years ago it was designated one of the most environmentally degraded sites in the Great Lakes

NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Habitat Conservation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other partners have worked for decades to restore the area. Early on, there was skepticism as to whether the cleanup was even possible. A long history of industrial use along the shoreline of the lake and contaminated the water and sediment with compounds such as mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Since 2008, NOAA Fisheries has partnered with the Great Lakes Commission to carry out restoration projects that:
• Restored and reconnected 134 acres of wetland and offshore habitat
• Restored more than 7,000 feet of shoreline
• Removed 347,350 tons of debris
• Removed 190,000 tons of contaminated soil
• Enhanced habitat for species such as walleye, Chinook salmon, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and threatened lake sturgeon
• Improved public recreational access

An economic study found that restoration generated an additional $28 million annually in recreational value and an estimated 500,000 additional visits per year.

See the link above for more pictures, and much more detail about the long-term cleanup.


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