RTC TrailBlog : michigan, fred meijer

Michigan Communities Eager to Support Planned Rail-Trail

Jake Lynch — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:30:00 GMT

In 1994, Michigan businessman Fred Meijer funded the purchase of the first rail-trail right-of-way in the state. That purchase became the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail (right), and since then, the philanthropy of the Meijer family has made possible one of the best trail networks in America.

The success and popularity of these trails has been the best vindication of Meijer's visionary support. A year after his death, Meijer's legacy continues to expand as the people and communities of Michigan carry on his belief that such trails represent a wise investment.

Right now, small communities in the mid-Michigan counties of Clinton, Ionia and Shiawassee are digging deep to help fund the planned 41.3-mile Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee (CIS) rail-trail (below). These communities have raised more than $180,000 to match a number of state and federal grants, with a number of municipalities pitching in far more than the amount requested of them by the state.

According to this story in the Sentinel Standard, smaller communities were asked to give a voluntary sum of $5,000 each to help support the trail system, with larger communities, including Ionia and St. Johns, asked to provide $25,000. In response, Ionia gave $50,000. Many other towns gave additional funds, too, conscious of the value of the trail and great value it brings to the area, improving not only the quality of life of existing residents, but its tourism potential and ability to attract new residents and businesses. Thanks to donations by local residents, the Friends of the Fred Meijer CIS Trail has also raised almost $50,000.

"It's important for them to participate," Michigan Department of Resources Trail Planning Specialist Annamarie Bauer told the Sentinel Standard. "The trail brings people to their communities and can help provide economic opportunities."

Photo of Fred Meijer Heartland Trail by RTC
Photo of CIS rail corridor courtesy www.cistrail.org

Michigan Reaps the Dividend of Growing Rail-Trail Network

Jake Lynch — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:33:00 GMT

At Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) 25th Anniversary celebration last year, we recognized the trail-blazing achievements of Carolyn Kane and the late Fred Meijer, two Michiganders who during the past few decades have made a remarkable contribution to the development of America's rail-trail network.

Kane and Meijer would be the first to say it was an honor that should be shared with many in their state--for years Michigan has been a leader in building, maintaining and promoting trails, biking and walking. Driven by a number of strong and effective citizen advocacy and volunteer groups, and supported by proactive and farsighted local and state government agencies, Michigan is a model of how to get trails built, and how to maximize their benefits.

Michigan has the largest rail-trail system in America, with more than 2,300 miles. And they are well-used; there are more than 300 bike tours that criss-cross the state, enjoyed by more than 45,000 cyclists each year.

And, in a state that has had its share of economic struggles, this network of trails is proving itself to be a substantial and sustainable source of revenue.

A recent article in Bridge Magazine found that the bike tour business in Michigan is booming, built on the growing popularity of outdoor recreation vacations and the state's expansive rail-trail network.

Although a statistical review of trail users in Michigan has not yet been conducted, a 2010 University of Wisconsin study found that Wisconsin, which has about three-quarters the trail miles of Michigan, enjoyed more than $920 million in economic benefits due to bicycle recreation and tourism. Of that total, the study credited almost $540 million to out-of-state cyclists.

The Bridge article quotes Rich Moeller, executive director of the League of Michigan Bicyclists, as saying that the average household income of bicyclists is about $125,000 a year.

"They are people who have expendable income, and when they come to tour, they want to spend, and they do," Moller said. "(The) local community is seeing dollars from folks coming in from somewhere else. I think that attracting out-of-town folks to your community to spend dollars is always a good thing, whether they come from another state, country or just another town in Michigan."

Conscious of the importance of trails to the state's prosperity, Michigan continues to build. This June, the Top of Michigan Trails Council will open the North Eastern State Trail, a 70-mile rail-trail that passes through the Great Lakes region and connects to another long adventure, the 62-mile North Central State Trail (above).

"When it comes to trails, Michigan really gets it," says RTC's Karl Wirsing, who rode the North Central State Trail in 2008. "From the local advocates and businesses right up to the Department of Natural Resources and the funding agencies, it is amazing to see how much the state has been able to achieve. It is also great to see that investment returned, many times over, in terms of tourism dollars and quality of life assets for locals."

Photo of North Central State Trail courtesy of David Yates/traillink.com
Photo of Fred Meijer Heartland Trail by RTC.

Michigan Announces Funding for Two New Rail-Trail Projects

Jake Lynch — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:20:00 GMT

The farsighted vision of Fred Meijer continues to reap dividends for the people of Michigan.

When in 1994 Fred Meijer donated $265,000 to help purchase an out-of-service rail line in Greenville for what would one day become the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, few would have imagined the broad network of trails it would inspire.

Since then, the Fred Meijer Trails Network has branched out from Michigan's lower peninsula to cover hundreds of miles and dozens of communities across the state. Their popularity as tourist attractions, recreational amenities and vital urban and rural connectors has been the catalyst for strong support for trails investment in the state, with residents, businesspeople and elected officials seeing firsthand the myriad benefits they bring.

That network looks set to expand further, with the great news earlier this month that the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund had awarded $300,000 to develop eight miles of paved rail-trail through the communities of Ovid, St. Johns, Fowler, Pewamo and Muir.

These eight miles are the first stage in what will eventually be the 41.3-mile Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail (CIS). Such is the enthusiasm for trails in Michigan, plans are already afoot to link the CIS trail with the Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Trail, Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Trail and the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail to create a "super trail," allowing visitors to travel along three different rivers, through two state game areas, and through 16 towns and villages.

There was more great news for the people of Michigan with the announcement that a seven-mile rail-trail project connecting Bear Creek Township to Alanson in northern Michigan is likely to begin construction in 2012, thanks to a $942,000 federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

When complete, the 10-foot-wide asphalt trail will provide a crucial connection to the popular Little Traverse Wheelway, which runs between Harbor Springs and Charlevoix.

One of the reasons Michigan has been able to build such a model trail network is MDOT's understanding of how TE represents terrific fiscal value for the state.

"This federal funding helps pay for improvements that make a real difference in economic development and quality of life," MDOT's state transportation director, Kirk T. Steudle, told the Petoskey News.

"Transportation enhancements like these make Michigan communities even more attractive to residents, visitors and business investors."

Photo of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail courtesy of John Pearce/TrailLink.com.