Sleeping Bear Get $2 Million Toward Trail

Sleeping Bear Dunes- Lake Michigan (photo by Carol Spears, Wikimedia, public domain))

based on news from several sources

Hard on the heels of being voted the most scenic place in America, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has now received $2 million in federal grant money toward the goal of completing a multi-use trail through the park. The trail will run for 27 miles from the southern edge of Leelanau County to Good Harbor Bay. As a part of the TART (Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation) Trail System, the Heritage trail is being forged through partnerships with a number of entities.

Dusty Shutz, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent, says, “The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is the single most exciting project to come out of our recently completed General Management Plan."

The grants come from the U.S. Transportation Department and cover a 3.7 mile section of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail from Glen Arbor to the historic Port Oneida site, said Deputy Superintendent Tom Ulrich.

Since passing through public comment in 2008, the trail was designed in 2009. Construction will start next spring for the first four-mile stretch from the park's Dune Climb to Glen Arbor. This stretch, alone, could cut down on the amount of auto traffic congestion. Currently there is no other safe way to travel between these two popular destinations than by car.



See Sleeping Bear Heritage Trailway
See Sleeping Bear Dunes
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Labor Day Events at West Michigan State Parks

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a news release of the Michigan DNR

Labor Day may mark the unofficial end to summer, but Michigan state parks are still bustling with activity. As summer winds down, GO-Get Outdoors and take advantage of the long holiday weekend to squeeze in one more camping trip, bike ride or paddling adventure. Check out what's happening in Michigan state parks over the Labor Day Weekend.

Sept. 3
Wilderness State Park (Emmet County) -- Talent Show
Campers and day users will get the chance to show off their talents during the Fifth Annual Talent Show at Wilderness State Park, taking place at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, at the park's amphitheater. Donated prizes will be awarded. All interested parties may register with the park. Wilderness State Park is located at 903 Wilderness Park Dr. in Carp Lake. For more information or to register for this event, contact the park at 231-436-5381.

Sept. 3
Biking 101 along the White Pine Trail in Cadillac (Wexford County)
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park offers a 92-mile scenic biking trail between Cadillac and Grand Rapids. Learn to enjoy the trail to its fullest with a Biking 101 class scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 3. The class will meet at the White Pine Trail Cadillac Staging Area, 7184 E. 44 Road in Cadillac, where staff from Mitchell State Park's Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center will offer the basics in bike maintenance and safety. Participants will take a five-mile ride at the completion of the class. Representatives from McLain Cycle and Fitness of Cadillac will provide an assortment of bikes for participants to demo, and loaner bikes will also be available. Children under 10 years old should be accompanied by an adult. In the event of rain, the program will be postponed or cancelled. For more information about either Biking 101 event or directions, contact the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center at 231-779-1321.

Sept. 3
Biking 101 along the White Pine Trail in Grand Rapids (Kent County)
A Biking 101 clinic is also planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Rouge River Park Trailhead, located at the south end of the trail in Belmont. Learn about riding the White Pine Trail system, new bikes and bike safety. All levels of riders are welcome. Representatives from Ada Bike Shop, Grand Rapids Bicycle Company, Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition and Village Bike Shop will be present with demonstrations, safety tips, trail maps and more. In the event of rain, the program will be postponed or cancelled. For more information about either Biking 101 event or directions, contact the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center at 231-779-1321.

Sept. 5
Traverse City State Park (Grand Traverse County) -- 2nd Annual Labor Day Bridge Walk
Traverse City State Park is sponsoring its second annual Labor Day Bridge Walk (a mini version of the Governor's annual event). Join campers and park staff at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 5 to walk the bridge overpass spanning U.S. 31 from the campground to the other side of the highway, then head to the park beach for activities and refreshments. Traverse City State Park is located at 1132 US-31 North in Traverse City. For details, contact the park at 231-922-5270.



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Berry Junction Trail Opens in Muskegon County

Berry Junction Trail (photo from WZZM video)

based on news from WZZM TV 13

For years, Muskegon County has been hoping to complete this seven-mile link in its multi-use trail system, and today the Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony near White Lake Drive.The trail is built on an abandoned section of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad where Berry Junction was a real location on the railroad that linked Whitehall and Fremont.

At the north end, the Berry Junction Trail connects with the Hart-Montague Rail Trail in Whitehall, which allows users to continue 28 miles farther north to Hart. The south end of the new trail is located at McMillan Road. The trail crosses Dalton and Fruitland Townships.

The $800,000 price tag for the construction was covered by federal dollars, and grants from other organizations, including the West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition, the Frey Foundation, Meijer, and Dalton and Fruitland townships.

The trail is paved with asphalt, and bicycle riders have been checking it out with positive comments for the past month even before the official opening. Eventually, the trail may be extended south for an additional seven miles to connect with Muskegon's Lakeshore Trail.



See map of Muskegon Area Trails

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Boardman Lake Trail Gets Big Financial Boost

Boardman Lake Trail (photo from TART)

based on news articles at 9 and 10 news 
and The Detroit News

The Boardman Lake Trail currently follows the east side of Boardman Lake for two miles. The trail passes through woods and follows the lakeshore. The vision for the trail is that it will encircle the lake providing access to the Traverse Area District Library, Medalie and Hull Parks and more. This will also create a connection between this trail and the TART (Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation) Trail system.

The Grand Traverse County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority has recently granted 10 million dollars for the West Boardman Lake Trail project. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority board approved this as a tax break to expand a road construction project to include 1.8 miles of trail on the west side of the lake. Although the news is welcome, it will be several years before the project is even begun.




See map of the Traverse City urban trails 

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Prairie Falcon Spotted at Ludington

juvenile Prairie Falcon (photo by Chris Lipps)

submitted by Dave Dister

Around 5:20 p.m. this past Sunday Chris Lipps saw and photographed a juvenile Prairie Falcon about 1/4 mile north of the Big Sable Point Lighthouse at Ludington State Park.

The photos are diagnostic. As compared to the similar-sized Peregrine Falcon, the Prairie Falcon, Falco mexicanus, is paler overall, the mustache mark is paler and thinner, there is a white stripe above the eye, the wings are much shorter than the tail, and there are dark axillary (armpit) feathers on the underside of the wings. This represents only the 4th record of this western falcon in Michigan !! The species inhabits dry open country and feeds on small mammals and insects. Also, Carl Freeman may have seen the falcon early Tuesday morning, though Chris did not see it during his piping plover survey shift, nor did Chris and I this early evening (between 6 and 7 p.m.).


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