Trail Donors Hope for Matching Funds
An effort to construct 150 miles of recreational trails across the region is receiving a boost from some familiar names. Meijer Inc. patriarch Fred Meijer is pledging $3 million, with the Steelcase and Frey foundations each offering $600,000. The money is being given with hopes that other local donors will match the funds. For his $3 million contribution, Meijer will be honored by having five of the new trails named after him. In addition, the entire network of trails will bear his name. "If he's going to give us that kind of money, we'll rename the township," joked Scott Hladki, supervisor for Dalton Township in Muskegon County. The township will receive $618,000 from The Meijer Foundation to build the 10-mile Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail. The trail will connect the Hart-Montague Trail State Park with the city of Muskegon. Its estimated cost is $3.3 million.
The West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition launched the fundraising effort in February. Eight of the network trails will see new construction. "This is wonderful," executive director Peter DeBoer said. "We expected it would take 18 months, if not longer. We are really pleased." The $4.2 million from the three foundations puts the group closer to its $6 million goal. That's the amount of local dollars needed to leverage an additional $21 million in state and federal money earmarked for building trails by 2008 in West and Mid-Michigan. Meijer, 86, said his interest in funding trails has its roots in his rural upbringing and a love of cycling as a younger man when he and his wife, Lena, would bicycle in Europe with friends. "Once they are gone, they are gone forever," Meijer said. "I think city folks need a connection with nature to keep their sanity. These trails will give them a chance to see cows, a hayfield or a field of corn."
Ruth Pruis, the clerk for Jamestown Township, is expected to receive $630,000 toward the $3.7 million cost of the 13-mile Fred Meijer Kenowa Trail, which will connect Kent Trail to the Macatawa Greenway Trail. "We simply couldn't afford the trails otherwise," Pruis said. "The townships just don't have the money to do that." DeBoer said the recent pledges also mean the Fred Meijer M-6 Trail will be built next year. "Fred gave so much, we've decided to name the entire trail network after him," he said. The Meijer Foundation, he said, has put up $7.1 million for trails in the area, including the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, Flat River Greenville Trail and the Clinton, Ionia Shiawassee Trail.
For more information on the West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition go to www.wmtrails.org.
By Howard Meyerson (hmeyerson@grpress.com) Grand Rapids Press Tuesday, May 16, 2006
The West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition launched the fundraising effort in February. Eight of the network trails will see new construction. "This is wonderful," executive director Peter DeBoer said. "We expected it would take 18 months, if not longer. We are really pleased." The $4.2 million from the three foundations puts the group closer to its $6 million goal. That's the amount of local dollars needed to leverage an additional $21 million in state and federal money earmarked for building trails by 2008 in West and Mid-Michigan. Meijer, 86, said his interest in funding trails has its roots in his rural upbringing and a love of cycling as a younger man when he and his wife, Lena, would bicycle in Europe with friends. "Once they are gone, they are gone forever," Meijer said. "I think city folks need a connection with nature to keep their sanity. These trails will give them a chance to see cows, a hayfield or a field of corn."
Ruth Pruis, the clerk for Jamestown Township, is expected to receive $630,000 toward the $3.7 million cost of the 13-mile Fred Meijer Kenowa Trail, which will connect Kent Trail to the Macatawa Greenway Trail. "We simply couldn't afford the trails otherwise," Pruis said. "The townships just don't have the money to do that." DeBoer said the recent pledges also mean the Fred Meijer M-6 Trail will be built next year. "Fred gave so much, we've decided to name the entire trail network after him," he said. The Meijer Foundation, he said, has put up $7.1 million for trails in the area, including the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, Flat River Greenville Trail and the Clinton, Ionia Shiawassee Trail.
For more information on the West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition go to www.wmtrails.org.
By Howard Meyerson (hmeyerson@grpress.com) Grand Rapids Press Tuesday, May 16, 2006
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