All 3 Counties Give the Go-Ahead to the Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail!!!
October 13, 2005 marked Shiawassee County’s final adoption of a resolution to proceed with the Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail Project. With this third county decision, trail advocates felt they finally reached the end of a long journey started in 1999 to convert the abandoned Central Michigan Railroad corridor into a multi-use trail for recreation and nonmotorized transportation. In reality, it is only the beginning since there are many hurdles to go before the trail can become reality. Property deeds analysis, price negotiation, 
fundraising, trail design, decisions on trail operation, are all items that will need to be taken into consideration. “But for now, commented Nancy Krupiarz, Executive Director, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, “the Friends of the Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail can celebrate the fact that this will now be a project officially pursued by the counties.”
Next Steps
The next step for the trail project will be for the 3 counties to come together to finalize how a $1.125 million grant from the Meijer Foundation will be spent on the trail and to begin to work on a formal trail commission agreement for future operation and maintenance of the trail.
The Tri-County Trail Study Committee
For the past year, it was the Tri-County Trail Study Committee, comprised of 3 representatives each from Clinton, Ionia, and Shiawassee counties who scrutinized the issues related to trail acquisition, development, maintenance, and operation. Since their appointment in October, 2004, they toured the corridor, listened to experts from across the state answer their concerns, and ended their deliberations with a vote this past May, recommending that each of the counties pursue the trail project. Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance thanks each and every committee member who diligently attended meetings and carefully considered all the issues before making their recommendations.
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