 Tim Shelton scouting trail (photo by Katy Shelton) |
from a conversation with Katy Shelton
Looking for stories to feature on this blog, I was reading about a recently created trail around the perimeter of Sparta Sports Complex, Sparta, Michigan. Imagine my surprise when scanning the article, to realize that I know the people responsible for creating this trail.
Katy and Tim Shelton, active North Country Trail hikers and volunteers, decided they wanted a trail near their home where they could get in 5K (three miles).
"We wanted to create a trail for the residents of Sparta that was nearby and easily accessible. Hopefully walking on our trail will inspire them to continue their hiking adventures and seek out other trails, farther away. They will soon discover all the neat trails that are out there for everyone to explore."
Starting two years ago in dense woods full of "pricker bushes" and undergrowth, the couple began pounding in orange stakes to determine a suitable route for the new trail. "We hammered in over 300 of them," Katy told me.
"I don't like long pants," Katy says. "That first year was brutal. We plotted a course and chopped out a trail through woods and wild raspberry bushes with LOTS of thorns and over a TON of trippable roots." Tim's trousers would be covered in sharp, prickly seed pods. Katy's legs took a real beating! But they persisted. They got help from other community volunteers, and this fall (2025) the 3.5-mile trail opened.
At first the couple carried all their tools in by wagon, but eventually the Sports Park loaned them the use of a golf cart which made the logistics much easier.
Signs are in place and locator maps will be installed. KAty explained there is currently a small detour where a river improvement project is underway, but the trail is still useable.
Katy said, "I'm working to get it on AllTrails, but that's a work on progress."
The park also features ball fields and a disc golf course.
See Sparta Sports Park
See Fox 17 news report on the project
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid
Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch
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