Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance

A 599-mile trail stretching from Detroit’s Belle Isle to Wisconsin — connecting existing trails and meandering through the middle part of the Michigan mitten and across its Upper Peninsula — would showcase some of the state’s most breathtaking vistas to hikers, snowmobilers and countless other off-road enthusiasts, according to a proposal unveiled Wednesday by Gov. Rick Snyder.

The trail would wind through the state’s forested areas and prairies, and through open lands and by waterways, offering year-round recreation to residents and tourists, said Ron Olson, chief of Michigan’s parks and recreation division. Read more . . .

To see proposed trail from Belle Isle to Wisconsin.

Safe Routes to School

Mini-Grants Announcement

The Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) request proposals for the development of programs that promote organized initiatives that encourage Michigan students in grades K-8 to walk, bicycle, or use other means of physical activity to get to and from school safely. The program is intended to help increase the number of children walking/biking/rolling safely to and from school by providing 15 active transportation program grants of up to $5,000 each.

Eligible recipients include public, private, parochial, charter and other elementary and/or middle schools serving any grades in the K-8 range, as well as schools with existing SRTS programs. Awarded funds will be provided for the spring semester of the 2012-2013 school year and fall semester of the 2013-14 school year on a reimbursement basis.   Go to www.saferoutesmichigan.org/srts-mini-grants for a copy of the RFP.  Example programs include but are not limited to the following…

• Walking School Bus
• Bike Train/Bike Brigade
• Corner Captains
• Mileage Program
• Golden Sneaker Award

Please contact Linda Patrick, Program Coordinator by email,  LPatrick [at] michiganfitness [dot] org  should you have any questions on this or a different Safe Routes to School program.   The proposal deadline is December 7, 2012 at 4:30 p.m.

This past week Governor Synder officially released the final report from the Blue Ribbon Panel on State Parks and Outdoor Recreation. Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance was pleased to have had a board member, Julie Clark, of TART Trails, Inc. in Traverse City serving on this panel.   We are pleased to report that trails were an important part of the conversation and came out as a top recommendation.

Another report connected with Michigan’s outdoor recreation is the SCORP, Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.  Submittal of this report every 5 years qualifies Michigan for federal Land and Water Conservation funds which are awarded to outdoor recreation projects.   This is another place where trails have been recommended as a priority for DNR consideration.

To finish up the SCORP process, the DNR invites public review of the draft  report. The DNR will accept comments and feedback on the draft plan through Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Comments can be submitted via survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SCORPreview or by mail to:

Michigan Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan – Comments
c/o Public Sector Consultants
600 W. St. Joseph, Suite 10
Lansing, MI 48933

From Maia Stephens, Recreation Programmer at the Michigan DNR–

The first Michigan Trails Week, held September 23-29, was designed to highlight both summer season trail use, and promote opportunities for winter trail use.  It was a collaboration with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Recreation and Park Association and the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, and ended on National Public Lands Day in an effort to promote stewardship of Michigan’s amazing trail network.

In its first year, Governor Rick Snyder proclaimed the week as an official event, and more than fifty businesses and organizations participated statewide to host 44 separate events throughout the week, contributing to the 33,169 miles of trail covered by 1,332 participants (19 of the 44 total event hosts reported numbers at the time of this recap, so final numbers are likely nearly double this report).

Foot=1,850mi  Paddle=252mi  Bike=2,157mi  Equine=28,910mi

The event was launched through the three collaborating entities, sharing information and marketing resources through a grassroots effort directing interested parties to learn more at www.michigan.gov/trailsweek.

Also on this web site is further information about Michigan’s motorized, non-motorized and water trails to encourage continued use and support of Michigan’s trails.

Todd Scott, the Detroit Greenways coordinator,  uses Google’s Map Maker tool to improve cycling directions in Detroit by adding bike lanes and paths for more bicycle-friendly city streets. For more information see articles in the Huffington Post and on Google’s Blog.

Todd Scott cycling in Detroit (photo courtesy of mlive.com)