December 12, 2003

Michigan "Airline" Update
Macomb Orchard Trail Update

What's an "Airline" have to do with biking?  As it turns out the
railroad that ran from Jackson to Richmond (Macomb County) was
called the Michigan Airline when it was built in the late-1880s,
well before the Wright Brothers.

Today, I believe all of this railroad has been abandoned and much of
it is or will become trails.  Here are some updates for these various
trails:

MACOMB ORCHARD TRAIL -- Their Master Plan was recently released and
it's impressive.  We'll try to have a copy on-hand at upcoming MMBA
events.  Their web site is http://www.orchardtrail.org/ 

Macomb is also developing a Master Plan for the entire county.  That's
on-line at http://www.wadetrim.com/resources/macomb/index.htm

CLINTON RIVER TRAIL -- Rochester Hills is just about ready to solicit
bids for the new trail bridge behind Rochester College.  They hope to
have it built by National Trails Day (June 5th 2004.)  They also have
money to fix up all of the road crossings to make them easier and
safer to cross. http://www.clintonrivertrail.org

WEST BLOOMFIELD TRAIL -- Michigan's ice storms haven't been kind to
the big trees in the wetlands at the heron rookery.  As the storms
have felled these trees, the herons have been forced to nest in the
tall trees on the uplands (dry) areas.  The problems is the raccoons
can then get to their nests.  The City is proposing to install 12
telephone poles within the wetland. Each pole would have 3 nesting
platforms.  It's been successful elsewhere in helping heron rookeries
maintain a healthy population.

HURON VALLEY TRAIL -- There is a effort to extend this trail westward,
past South Lyon, and connect up with the Lakelands trail.  To get more
involved, you can attend a Friends of Green Oak Trail meeting.  They
meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 at the Old Green Oak
Township Hall at 10789 Silver Lake Rd. You can call Jim Fackert
(810 231-3471) or Kim Davis (248 446-9760) for more information

Todd Scott
Executive Director, Michigan Mountain Biking Association
execdir@mmba.org  www.mmba.org  (248) 288-3753
"Building America's Best Trails... in Michigan"
 

Thanks for visiting!
Jim Hanus
www.AllAboutRichmond.com
email: list@allaboutrichmond.com