TRAVERSE CITY - Recreation enthusiasts in the grand traverse area can look forward to a further expansion of trails.
“All we keep hearing is we want places to walk and bike. People want to get outside. They want to stay active.”
The TART Trails organization is connecting two sides of its trail on Grandview Parkway in Traverse City. The Michigan Department of Transportation is helping fund the project and securing easements for the city.
“This stretch of trail along the bay is one of the most popular for our running club like TC Track Club,” Julie Clark, CEO Tart Trails, “the Cycling Club, all of the students, you know, high school students who are using it for their training all summer long.”
At their February 18th meeting, the Traverse City, City Commission gave the Michigan Department Of Transportation the green light to purchase easements for the TART Trail extension.
“We don’t have that much of an opportunity, as sort of city residents, to have great places to walk along our bay. And the target provides a fantastic opportunity for both tourists and residents to get out and enjoy and explore one of the most important assets in our community, shares Clark.”
MDOT had $300,000 left over in the Parkway Project’s Real Estate Funds, this extension uses up $20,000 of that money. Clark explains how this small step will benefit the future of the trail system.
“So eventually we’re working with Peninsula Township and the city and MDOT to create an extension that goes all the way up into peninsula. And then, of course, just this coming year, we’re going to see massive trail improvements that go to the other peninsula, which is Leelanau, with a connection up to Cherry Bend.”
Elmwood township also plans to connect their park with Cherry Bend Road. TART trails' goal is to bring the community together so more people can be active outdoors. The Grand Traverse County Senior Center is one example of that.
“It’s really important for their physical health to stay active and out of the house and moving and using,” Lacey Edgecomb, Grand Traverse County Senior Center, “their talents and just staying busy in that way, but also the social engagement.”
There will also be more opportunities for the Senior Center to hold events on the TART trails.
“We have a lot of programs that, want to be outdoors. So, biking and hiking and walking that could all start at the senior center and then utilize the tart trail, which additional miles of tart trail would be awesome for those programs as well.”
The project is currently in the design phase and does not have a set timeline.