New Path Would Link Hart-Montague, Lakeshore Trails
A 10-mile bicycle trail that would connect the Hart-Montague trail with the city of Muskegon's trails could be constructed as early as next year if officials succeed in efforts to secure funding for the project. The funding process is expected to go smoothly, particularly with the assistance of Muskegon County officials, a local engineering firm that's volunteering its grant-writing services and the signatures of interested citizens.
The Berry Junction Trail, which is named for an old railroad junction in Dalton Township, has been in the planning stages for several years. Now members of the board that will govern the trail say they are ready to secure the estimated $1.9 million needed to build it. If the grants come through as planned, the goal will be to begin and complete construction of the trail in 2008, said Dalton Township Supervisor Scott Hladki, who chairs the Berry Junction Trail committee. "It's fun to actually see everything coming together," said Hladki. "It makes my job worthwhile."
The trail would link the city of Muskegon Lakeshore Trail at the north end of the Veteran's Memorial Causeway with the Hart-Montague trail on White Lake Drive. To meet their funding goal, Berry Junction committee members have asked Muskegon County officials to apply for a $500,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on their behalf. The deadline to apply for that grant is April 2, so the county is expected to finalize the application by the end of the month. The county also will be applying for a $1.4 million "enhancement grant" for the trail, from the Michigan Department of Transportation. The Berry Junction Trail project already has received a $618,000 grant from philanthropist Fred Meijer, who will be rewarded when the trail is dedicated as the "Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail." A local group also is working to raise $500,000 for the project, Hladki said. Muskegon County officials are getting involved in the process for several reasons, said Hladki.
The Berry Junction board recently asked the county's department of public works to handle maintenance of the trail, and state law says that grants must be sought by the agency that's in charge of maintenance. In addition, there's a general feeling that the county, with it's higher exposure and experience in securing grants, will stand a better chance of having the grant approved. The actual grant applications will be written, free of charge, by the local engineering firm of Johnson and Anderson, said Hladki. And officials hope to gain support for the grant applications by attaching petitions with the signatures of thousands of citizens.
By Steve Gunn
sgunn@muskegonchronicle.com
Wednesday, March 17, 2007
Courtesy of the Muskegon Chronicle ©2007
The Berry Junction Trail, which is named for an old railroad junction in Dalton Township, has been in the planning stages for several years. Now members of the board that will govern the trail say they are ready to secure the estimated $1.9 million needed to build it. If the grants come through as planned, the goal will be to begin and complete construction of the trail in 2008, said Dalton Township Supervisor Scott Hladki, who chairs the Berry Junction Trail committee. "It's fun to actually see everything coming together," said Hladki. "It makes my job worthwhile."
The trail would link the city of Muskegon Lakeshore Trail at the north end of the Veteran's Memorial Causeway with the Hart-Montague trail on White Lake Drive. To meet their funding goal, Berry Junction committee members have asked Muskegon County officials to apply for a $500,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on their behalf. The deadline to apply for that grant is April 2, so the county is expected to finalize the application by the end of the month. The county also will be applying for a $1.4 million "enhancement grant" for the trail, from the Michigan Department of Transportation. The Berry Junction Trail project already has received a $618,000 grant from philanthropist Fred Meijer, who will be rewarded when the trail is dedicated as the "Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail." A local group also is working to raise $500,000 for the project, Hladki said. Muskegon County officials are getting involved in the process for several reasons, said Hladki.
The Berry Junction board recently asked the county's department of public works to handle maintenance of the trail, and state law says that grants must be sought by the agency that's in charge of maintenance. In addition, there's a general feeling that the county, with it's higher exposure and experience in securing grants, will stand a better chance of having the grant approved. The actual grant applications will be written, free of charge, by the local engineering firm of Johnson and Anderson, said Hladki. And officials hope to gain support for the grant applications by attaching petitions with the signatures of thousands of citizens.
By Steve Gunn
sgunn@muskegonchronicle.com
Wednesday, March 17, 2007
Courtesy of the Muskegon Chronicle ©2007
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