Fall Newsletter 2022

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Fall Newsletter 2022

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ross Hammersley

President

Meg Ackerman Vice President

Chris Gallagher Past President

Linda Cline Treasurer

Jessica Alpers Secretary

George Bearup

Paul Bussey

David Edelstein

Sara Harding

Tara Hochstetler

Heather Jordan Matt McDonough

Nan Ray Rick Simonton

TART TRAILS STAFF

Julie Clark CEO

Brian Beauchamp Communications & Policy Director

Jamie Burley Finance & Administration Manager

Elizabeth Calcutt Trail Development Director Chris Deyo Data Wrangler

Caitlin Early Campaign & Development Officer

Janna Goethel Annual Gifts & Special Events Coordinator

Amy Hartzog Trail Planner

Chris Kushman Trail Planning & Management Director

Kate Lewis Community Engagement Manager

Sarah Loiacano Administrative Assistant Casey Ressl Development Director

Don Cunkle Recycle-A-Bicycle Program Director

Madison Meter Social Media Specialist

Dana Pflughoeft Winter Intern

Kam Schaub Summer Intern

Letter from Julie

This is a pretty exciting year for TART Trails. This summer we kicked off construction of the first leg of the Nakwema Trailway in Acme and got engineering rolling on the Three Mile Trail in East Bay Township. We completed preliminary design of the TART improvement and extension effort along the Traverse City bayfront and are looking forward to moving ahead with the City of Traverse City and Downtown Development Authority on trail engineering efforts. Events were back in full swing with hundreds of folks participating in signature events like Smart Commute, Recycle-a-Bicycle Bike Swap, and Tour de TART. We stayed busy with volunteers and partners welcoming visitors to the trails and celebrating happy, healthy communities.

And in late August we gathered with hundreds of community members and leaders to celebrate the completion of the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. The Loop, a project 30 years in the making, is a testament to the power of passion, persistence, and commitment to community vision. The Loop also represents the execution of TART Trails’ core values. Our core values guide each and every project and program we tackle at TART. As we look back at a busy year behind us, we are proud to share how our values resonate in the projects both on the ground and in the works, and how those values inform the work we undertake, investments we make, and collaborations we seek. Your support of TART Trails allows us to continue to keep the trails contributing to thriving communities. Thanks for another fantastic season on the trails!

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Julie Clark, CEO Julie Clark CEO
traversetrails.org
Cover Photo Credit: Prein & Newhof

Welcoming for All

It’s no secret that in recent years there has been a seismic shift in how people are choosing to spend their leisure time and opting to get around. Over the past two years, the outdoor industry exploded with more people visiting parks and finding their way around town on their feet. We see that growth on our trails. The rise in outdoor activity on the trails brings more opportunities to make changes for the better.

Here at TART Trails, when we talk about accessibility on our trails and shared outdoor spaces, we are talking about our commitment to making trails

more welcoming for all. We are grateful to work with influential and leading community partners at Northern Michigan E3, Disability Network Northern Michigan, Up North Pride, Norte, and other groups and organizations committed to promoting safe, comfortable, convenient, and affordable ways for everyone to move around our communities.

We’re working to make every home a trailhead and ensure the spaces and places that you can access right in your own backyard are inclusive and welcoming. We’re listening. We’re learning. And we’re inviting you to join us in the movement to build healthier, happier, more connected communities. 250,000

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traversetrails.org
Average Annual Trail Visits TART Trails Core Values
2019 2020 2021 350,000 500,000+
ACCESS Promote safe, comfortable, convenient and affordable ways for everyone to move around our communities COLLABORATION Work with community partners to develop and maintain a world class trail network CONNECTION Foster enduring relationships to nature, people, places and ourselves HEALTH Encourage active transportation and outdoor recreation to improve personal wellbeing and community health RECREATION Support year-round trail activities for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy SUSTAINABILITY Contribute to a healthy environment, thriving economies, and resilient communities
Photo Credit: LilJes Photography
These figures do not capture the more than one million annual visits to the TART Bayfront.

Access Accessibility in Motion

In June, we had the pleasure of participating in the inaugural Accessible Recreation Day with our partners at Disability Network Northern Michigan, Grand Traverse County, and Norte. It was an inspirational afternoon at the Civic Center highlighting various inclusive recreation agencies in our region, exploring hands-on activities for the whole family, and growing community connections. The organizations present at the event are among the groups leading the local charge to ensure equitable access for our community members. We’re grateful to join these efforts by helping to support the pathways for movement.

Accessibility is an essential part of trail development to ensure that trails are available to everyone, no matter their age or ability. In our work, we look to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to help inform us of accessibility requirements for new or altered facilities to be readily usable by individuals with disabilities. The TART Trails network has just over 54 miles of ADA compliant trails. We’re continually working to increase that mileage through new trails and improvements to existing trails. We’re also looking to improve accessibility of our trailheads and trailside amenities like benches, signage and overlooks.

Meet Gwynn Morey

Gwynn Morey is a 103-year-old, WWII veteran who moved to Traverse City in February to be closer to his daughter, Rebecca. Throughout the spring, they visited Medalie Park to watch progress on the Boardman Loop Trail and on each visit, they talked about walking the boardwalk when it was finished. Rebecca asked her father why he enjoyed the boardwalk so much.

Gwynn said he found it very peaceful and enjoyed the undisturbed beauty of the lake and the wildlife that he couldn’t fully appreciate from the shore. Closing the loop is a wonderful gift for the community but for Gwynn, the true beauty of the boardwalk is that it gives him the ability to connect with nature in a way that is not typically possible for those with limited mobility and sight.

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FALL NEWSLETTER 2022 traversetrails.org

Humor for Harmony on the Trails

When we all practice courtesy, caution, and control, the trails are a place where we all have the space and safety to move our bodies and clear our minds. It’s really simple. Be kind. Be considerate. Stay to the right, pass on the left. Alert others to your presence. Ring that bell. Use your voice. Smile and wave as you slowly pass by.

One bud in One bud out

Kindness Goes the Distance

At TART Trails, we want to encourage all people, from novice users to legacy riders, to get out on the trails for meaningful recreation, health, and transportation opportunities. So, where do electric bikes fit into all this? eBikes are classified as bicycles by the State of Michigan. At TART Trails, our ultimate goal is getting more people out and active on the trails— whether walking, running, wheeling, or pedaling. We work closely with government officials at all levels, vendors, trail users, and law enforcement to listen and learn about how to best provide improved experiences and safe access for the increasing number of people and modes of use that are on the trail. Our approach to eBikes remains focused on encouragement, education, and trail design to support healthy, happy, active communities.

This spring we hosted an eBike etiquette workshop with representatives from local bike sales and rental shops, Norte, Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association, League of Michigan Bicyclists, and the Cherry Capital Cycling Club. It was an opportunity to be in the same room together and get on the same page with policy and education around eBikes. The outcomes of the workshop included forming stronger partnerships, generating materials for better awareness and education around safety and etiquette, and a collective understanding that we are working toward a common goal— more people outside having a great time on the trails.

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Your Strava record can wait! Pl ease sl ow down as you' re passing other trail users.
org
Help us keep the trails safe and welcoming for all! traversetrails
Dogs, pl ease train your human to cl ean up after you so our vol unteers don' t have to. Woof.
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Help us keep the trails safe and welcoming for all!
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Help us keep the trails safe and welcoming for all!
Photo Credit: Tom Balazs

Collaboration is at the heart of who TART Trails is and the core of what we do. There isn’t a project or initiative under the TART Trails’ canopy that exists without it. Whether it is an individual with a vision, or a partner joining forces to move missions forward, benefits abound and bigger strides are made for the betterment of our community when we work together.

From founders and funders, to enthusiasts and engineers, and leadership at all levels—public, private, local, and state— the newly completed Boardman Lake Loop Trail is truly an example of collaboration at its finest. The four-mile Loop that we enjoy today is the result of tireless efforts and passionate persistence of an entire community of dreamers and doers over three decades. Key players in getting this last leg of the Loop completed include the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, City of Traverse City, Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, and the Grand Traverse County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

The Loop is the result of the powerful combination of visionaries and committed community leaders. We’re grateful for the individuals who lived andbreathed this trail for more than 30 years. Those who pushed and prodded and helped launch the vision and stayed the course. We’re thankful to those who followed and continued to push forward, all the while listening and understanding the vision behind the trail. The Loop is a testament to what’s possible to achieve when you listen, respect, and stay true to a community’s vision and values and roll up your sleeves to work with partners to see that vision through.

6 traversetrails.org FALL NEWSLETTER 2022 Collaboration Happy, Healthy Communities Through Collaboration BOARDMAN LAKE LOOP Medalie Park LEELANAU TRAIL Suttons Bay Trailhead SUMMER VISIT TOTALS JULY–SEPTEMBER 2022 56% PEDESTRIAN 44% BICYCLIST BOARDMAN LAKE LOOP TRAIL VISITS BY USER TYPE 81,999 LEELANAU TRAIL Cherry Bend Trailhead 71,543 TART TRAIL Grandview 51,555 LEELANAU TRAIL Shady Lane Trailhead 51,325 TART TRAIL Parsons Road 54,545 36,187 Building the Boardman: How community vision, values and persistence completed the Loop

Three Mile Trail—Two Miles, Endless Possibility

Combine the powerhouse programming of Norte, the incredible natural setting of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don & Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve, the partnership of the Grand Traverse Road Commission, the leadership, funding and trail savvy of TART Trails, and the committed leadership of East Bay Township—and you have the perfect ingredients for a game changing community asset.

Thanks to a challenge grant from the Jim & Diana Huckle Family Foundation, which we more than doubled with a $900,000 federal appropriation and additional private donations, together with East Bay Township, we’ve launched design and engineering for the Three Mile Trail extension.

Part of a larger active transportation plan along the Hammond/Three Mile Road corridor, the nearly two-mile trail extension will provide life-changing infrastructure and critical connections to support active transportation, outdoor recreation, resource stewardship, and education for locals, visitors, commuters, and students in East Bay Township. The proposed trail will meander through the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s Mitchell Creek Meadows Preserve where the Conservancy is working to implement a multifaceted plan that will restore the land to its healthy, natural state. With its link to East Bay’s Safe Routes to School infrastructure, the trail will directly connect to numerous businesses, schools with over 2,400 students, East Bay Township offices, and existing and planned neighborhoods.

My family and I are looking forward to the new trail along Three Mile Rd for so many reasons!

First, we will finally feel connected to ‘town’. I believe this trail will open up a safe alternative for people powered transportation from the “Hammond Corridor” into town.

I look forward to the mini-adventures of loading up the bikes and backpacks with supplies for a day-trip to the beach or a friend’s place without coordinating a park and ride with our vehicle. I expect our children to appreciate this independence as they grow older and more experienced.

Finally, especially this time of year, the autumn, I am extremely grateful for the natural beauty of our area. I look forward to riding my bike into town without having to endure “the scenery” of Three Mile Rd. Seriously, the stretch from Hammond Rd to S. Airport Rd. has got to be one of the least enjoyable sections of road in the county. The beauty of the trail’s proposed route should be incentive enough to get more people to try biking into town instead of driving!

Let’s go, Three Mile Trail!

—Ben

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Boyce, Local Teacher and Trail User Photo Credit: Noah Jurik

A Corridor of Connections

The Nakwema Trailway, a partnership between Top of Michigan Trails Council, TART Trails and state and local agencies along the way, is about so much more than connecting to cities. Up North is more than a place, it is the connections to the land, the water, the agriculture, and the people. The entirety of the Nakwema Trailway exists on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg people. We cherish this land, and are honored to work to provide meaningful community connections as an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those on whose ancestral lands we reside and traverse.

Create connections—that is what the Nakwema Trailway will do. Nakwema is an Ojibwe word meaning where paths connect. This trailway is about so much more than connecting two cities. It’s about celebrating the past and present, sharing stories of the people and places we’ll see along the way, showcasing the cultural, recreational and natural assets of the region and creating opportunities for everyone to participate in active living and healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation and active transportation.

This May in Acme, we broke ground on the first leg of the big, bold dream that is the Nakwema Trailway. The two mile Acme Connector supports direct connections to desired destinations and creates important opportunities for quality outdoor recreation and economic development. It is the start of connections to come and stories to share.

Trail on the ground in Acme is just one of many exciting things happening along the Nakwema Trailway. We’ve been steadily making our way up the corridor with active projects in Acme, Elk Rapids, and Charlevoix. This summer with our partners at Top of Michigan Trails Council we kicked off conversations in Eastport as community members reached out and funders stepped up to help figure out how to create connections in their community. Torch Lake Township unanimously voted to support launching segment design. Together with Top of Michigan Trails Council and Township residents, over the course of the next year we’ll be working closely with the community to determine trail scope and alignment—a critical first step forward in getting more trail on the ground.

With the Acme Connector Trail opening this Fall I am so eager to see people using the trail for commuting, leisure and fitness in our community. We are finally connecting neighborhoods to large employers (The Resort and Meijer) with the trail system so people can bike commute to work. I enjoy biking to Traverse City from Acme for a fun outing—and I can finally do that on a trail instead of dangerous goat paths or roadsides, sometimes we even go as far as Suttons Bay!

This is a huge step for everyone on the east side, and hopefully a first step in connecting two major trail systems as we move northward toward the trails in Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs.

—Karly Wentzloff, Acme Township Planning Commission Chair and trail enthusiast

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Connection

Volunteers: Passionate People Creating Connections

TART Trails volunteers are a powerhouse group of people that benefit the trails in a big way. We appreciate and value the many talents and unending enthusiasm volunteers and Ambassadors bring to TART Trails. This year our volunteers tackled regular trail clean ups, helped at dozens of events, and came into the office to pitch in when they were needed. They took on special tasks like prepping for Art on the TART, establishing and caring for island gardens, and roaming the trails, always quick with a smile or a helping hand to folks along the way. You can find these selfless souls across the entire trail network, giving their time and talent to help make sure everyone feels welcome and enjoys their time on the trails. Earlier this year, on a beautiful fall evening at Jolly Pumpkin, we celebrated these fine folks and all the good work they helped accomplish.

Volunteer Ambassador of the Year

The one and only Mr. Paul Deyo

Boardman Lake Loop leadership team, The City of Traverse City, Garfield Township & Grand Traverse County

9 traversetrails.org 2022 Volunteers By The Numbers volunteers VOLUNTEER HOURS retained new Honorees at the Volunteer Appreciation Party FALL NEWSLETTER 2022 403 7,753 175 228 Community Partner Grand Traverse Metro Fire Corporate Partner West Shore Bank
Government Partner
You can find Paul out on the Loop fixing the warped and broken boards and railings, trimming his way along the TART, or woodworking
and brochure
something amazing into existence like benches
boxes.
Meg Ackerman Glen Ackerman Janice Adams Katie Allen Jessica Alpers Nicholas Anderson Sharon Andringa Andrea Ania Katie Armstrong Judy Arnold Paul Arnold Ted Arnold Tom Auer Erica Austin Carrie Baic Sandra Barkman Russ Barkman Halee Barnum Jacquelinne Barreto Courtney Barrett Tim Barrons Deena Barshney Kim Basch Patricia Bearup George Bearup Arthur Beaudoin Elizabeth Beaudoin Pat Beck Haley Bennett Duane Bickel Maureen Botteron Dean Bowles Rick Bowman Tisha Boyden Eric Braverman Jamie Bredahl Tim Brick Kelci Bright Holly Brosier Leland Brown Allison Brown Scott Michael Brown Lisa Buczkowski Christina Burger Jamie Burley Tony Burley Kelly Busley Paul Bussey MJ Cartwright John Chase Julie Clark Bill Clark Linda Cline Marilyn Cobb
Cockrell Rose Coleman Jessica Coleman Lou Colombo Paula Colombo Maribeth Condon Barry Cook Doug Corwin Jenn Coyle Ed Crippen Janelle Culp Don Cunkle Yvonne Cunkle Lauren Dake Bill Danly Dea Danly Paul Davidson Julie Davis David Dean Gloria Dean Willem Degood Pam DeMerle Paul Deyo Christine Deyo Lindsey Dickinson Jeff Dillingham Daniel Dolinka Lyn Dolson Pugh Jim Dombrowski Peter Doren Betsy Duede Steve Duede Jeff Dungan Amy Dykhouse Sally Dykhuis Caitlin Early Alex Eaton David Edelstein Debbie Edson Adam Emerick Tom Emling Diane Emling Tom Emmott Danni Engel Nicole Enger Martha Eshbaugh Margaret Fako Claire Farrell Nate Fegan Kristin Fehrman Dave Fisher Dennis Fitzpatrick Enoch Flaugher Andrew Fles Linda Flynn Michael Foley Mary Foley Joy Fowler Sheila Frank Matt Frye Victoria Frye Chris Gallagher Sabrina Garland Gerry Garrity Jennifer Geiger Traci George Madeleine George John Gerty Gretchen Gladieux Chris Gladieux Lois Goldstein Linda Gollan Kristin Good Polly Gray Larry Gray Josh Green Kate Greene Michael Greer Mike Greilick Susan Gugel Terri Gustafson Monica Hackney Heather Hall Alison Haller Kristi Hameedi Ross Hammersley Ryan Hannon Stephen Hannon Sara Harding Wayne Harner Dean Hartmann Amy Hartzog Kathryn Haynes Jim Heffner John Heiam Kathy Heil George Hermach Sharon Hermach Tess Hetzel Marcia Hickey Laura Hill Renee Hintz Tara Hochstetler Brett Hood Ruth Hoppe Thomas Houseman Michele Howard Judy Hoxsie Katie Hoyt Tim Hughes Lisa Hughes David Hunter John Huschke BJ Ingwersen Dale Jackson Amanda Jackson Ann Jaffe James Jaffe Michael Jarvis Jerry Jenkins Delbert Johnson Peg Jonkhoff Heather Jordan Chad Jordan Donna Kaysserian Brian Kelley Dick Kelley Caroline Kennedy Namith Kennedy Lisa Kenney Gerry Kenney Jeff Kessler Sue Kessler Mary Pat Key Dana Kilinski Stephanie Kimball Austin Kimball Sam King Marty Klein Randy Knopp Linda Koebert Lisa Kohler Erika Korndorfer Debra Korreck Coreene Kreiser Katie Krupa Gary Lake Dexter Lamie Deb Lannen Sue Leach Eric Linguar John Lombardi Nancy Loveland Zac Luhellier Gary MacAulay Ann Madison Mark Maguire Becky Mang Dave Mathews Karen Mauro-Doren Mary McCarthy Shayrrl McCready 10 A Special Thank You to our 2021-2022 Volunteers traversetrails.org FALL NEWSLETTER 2022
Sara
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McDonald Matt McDonough Elizabeth McLachlan Terrie Meadows Steve Mentzer Michelle Mercer Richard Meteyer Connor Miller Dennis Mishler Joane Mitchell Melinda Mitchell Sandy Mitton Steve Mitton Dan Mixer Michelle Mizell Robert Mizell Lisa Molmen Dave Monstrey Devin Moore Geri Morris Nancy Morris John Morris Derrek Morros Robert Morrow Cynthia Morrow Vita Kennedy Morse Ben Munger Bette Munger Susan Murchie William Muth Dick Naperala Dan Naru Jennie Nestor Susan Norton Pat O’Connor Kerrileigh Ohanesian Eleanor Olds John Olds Carla Olds Tim Onthank Peter Ostrowski John Ott Peggy Ouellette Ginger Ovens Gretchen Overbeek Dan Packer Jill Packer Katie Paffhouse Bussey Debby Page Ed Parker Betty Parsons Anna Parsons Robby Parsons Jr James Pecott
Meredith
Percy Chuck Percy Steve Perdue
Peterson Fanie Pieterse Danny Pinegar Thad Popa Nancy Potter Miles Prendergast Gianna Primo Brian Pugh Diana Raddatz Carol Rademacher Roger Raehl Julie Rairigh Glen Rauth Pat Ray Nan Ray Kip Ray Mikaela Ray Justin Reed Tim Reicha Ann Reichert Robert Resh Casey Ressl Marvin Ressor Adam Rhoades Karen Richardson Kelly Richardson Kathleen Ricord John Robert Williams Lisa Robitshek John Roe Bill Rokos Jeanne Rokos Jennifer Ross Bradley Roswell Eileen Rudzinski Leslie Saffell Tom Sampson Caroline Schaefer-Hills Mike Schaeffer Mike Scharpf Brady Schickinger Ray Schmekel Erin Schmuckal Lindsey Schnell Libby Schnepf Chad Schut Mike Scott Bill Scott Adam Segerlind Bill Sellers Mary Beth Sellers John Semeyn Amy Shamroe Isaac Shapiro Megan Shapiro Sarah Shapiro Jill Sill Andy Sill Jennifer Simons Rick Simonton Jodi Simpson Shannon Sitek Jim Sitek Kelly Slater Jeffrey Slocombe Ed Slosky Brenda Smith Kacy Smith Carrie Smith Melissa Sole Barbara Solomonson Wes Sovis Renee Sovis Doug Spence Fern Spence Kyle Spencer Gary Spencer Carol Spencer Hayden Spitzley Stef Staley Stephen Starks Seth Stein Carol Stein Jackie Stein Hunter Steinkamp Dave Stellingworth Ann Stephens Mark Stephens Dwight Stevens Cindy Stevens Dorene Stevens John Stevenson Steve Strong Bob Stuber Sheila Stusick Joseph Stusick Tom Sutter Marnie Sutter Caitlin Swager Beth Swanson Thomas Szafranski Scott Talcott Emily Taphouse Carl Taphouse Mike Tarnow Jodee Taylor Dave Taylor Matt Thomas Kate Thornhill Paul Tichenor Elizabeth Tiffany Toni Toll Michelle Townshend Jeremy Treadwell Kathryn Treston-Aurand Traverse Tuchbaum Jenna Tucker Jen Tursman Rebecca Ulep Carolyn Ulstad Alana Unterbrink Howard Van Houten Sid Van Slyke Monica Vanderbil Cris Vanderburg Rick Venner Micheal Vickery Nick Viox Jan Vlach Marilyn Vogel Jill Elizabeth Vollbrecht Anna Vollbrecht Michael Wagner Andrew Walters Nancy Walton Kent Walton Wendy Warner Doug Warner Sharon Watling Tracey Weatherholt Ellen Welcker Mary Louise Weldon Steve Weldon Chris Wenger Barbara Wentzloff Jenna Wesley Jerry West Steve Westphal Kate White Bonnie Willings Patricia Wittkopp Deb Wyatt Fellows Meg Young Melissa Zawisza Jeff Zawisza
Julie
Kelley

Health

Better Trails on the Bay for a Happy, Healthy Traverse City

If you’re biking in the Grand Traverse region, you are naturally drawn to the Traverse Area Recreation Trail (TART), one of the region’s most iconic trails. Built in the early 1990s, the TART travels along the sparkling blue waters and sandy beaches of West Grand Traverse Bay and hosts over one million visits each year. Just across the trail and the Grandview Parkway sits downtown Traverse City and its charming neighborhoods.

In 2024, the Michigan Department of Transportation is planning a major reconstruction of the Grandview Parkway between Garfield and Division Streets. Thanks to the partnership between the City of Traverse City, the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority, and TART Trails, big plans are underway to extend and improve the trail along the bayfront in order to accommodate the over one million visitors per year along that stretch of trail. Conceptual design plans call for an improved trail with separated uses where possible in order to better manage the significant and increasing non-motorized traffic. This improvement will also extend the trail further east all the way to Eastern Avenue at the base of Old Mission Peninsula to support stronger connections to the parks and beaches along the shoreline and encourage more people to make their way on foot or bicycle around the region.

As our community's only non-profit running club, our mission to have more people out running and walking in safe, welcoming, and interesting places drives us in supporting improvements between Division and Eastern Ave. Traverse City is known as one of only 70 communities in the U.S. designated as “Runner Friendly” by the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). To be awarded this designation, a community earning this status has shown they have an infrastructure that can foster physical activity in a safe environment. We’re proud to support the Bayfront Improvement & Expansion project, which demonstrates that organizations and businesses work together to promote running as a healthy exercise and sport.

What a great addition to the Trailhead area, the Neighborhood, the Trail System—and Oryana staff like Devin and Libby can make good use of their break time!

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The recently installed Fitness Court along the Boardman Lake Loop just south of the Tenth Street Trailhead at Oryana is getting lots of regular use – and that’s great! We see neighbors working out, cross-country teams, City and County staff, and many others getting in shape and utilizing all the neat features. Many folks also seem to be incorporating a lap or two around the Loop on bikes, running, and walking in addition to hitting the Fitness Court! —Steve Nance, Oryana General Manager and TART Trails Ambassador

Celebrating and Supporting Outdoor Active Lifestyles: The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail

Last year over 85,000 people of all ages and abilities took to the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail to experience the magic of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. People of all ages and abilities experience the magic of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. These meaningful transportation and recreation opportunities allow for trail visitors to take in the sights, sounds, and fresh air through 21 miles of trail, all while encouraging personal wellbeing and community health.

This year, with project partners, we celebrate ten years of walking, biking, rolling, and strolling through the Lakeshore. The very first section of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail between Empire and the Dune Climb was constructed in 2012. Prior to this, visits to the Lakeshore were primarily limited to driving along scenic M-22 and only one mile of trail was considered ADA accessible.

Today, people can be seen on bikes and on foot heading out to explore nearby beaches, walking paths, dunescapes and more, and in all four seasons. Campers from DH Day flow into Glen Arbor and out to Glen Haven. You can get from North Bar Lake to the Dune Climb to Glen Haven to Port Oneida, and stop in Glen Arbor to enjoy a meal, all by the power of your own pedal. Soon, the trail will go further, nearly a full five miles, to Good Harbor Trail (CR651). Visitors and neighbors will be able to access the northern end of the Lakeshore and a significant trailhead at Good Harbor beach. When it comes to the Heritage Trail, truly a pathway for generations, we are excited about the adventures that await.

TART’s 2019 benefits study found visitors, businesses and health professionals believed the Heritage Trail played a significant role in providing health benefits to individuals and the community. Trail visitors specifically identified opportunities

The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail has changed the way people experience the National Lakeshore. More people are walking or riding bikes rather than driving. I see this when I’m working at the blacksmith shop with more than half of the visitors there arrive on their bikes. The trail opens up beautiful areas of the park that were previously difficult to access like the dunes between Glen Haven and the Dune Climb, and Narada Lake. The new section of trail between Bohemian Road and Good Harbor Trail is currently an area where few park visitors are able to venture, but when the trail is built they will be able to experience its unique habitats.

The trail provides a way for people with mobility challenges to experience nature in the park with wheelchairs, walkers, or scooters. The section of the Heritage Trail between Glen Arbor and the Dune Climb is pretty flat and has a lot of museums, easy access to the Lake Michigan beach, and the Dune Climb. It’s lovely to see multi-generational groups riding together on this section.

for exercise and being healthier as main motivators for their use of the trail. Visitors also identified the Heritage Trail’s impact on reducing health care costs, providing physical and mental health benefits, and promoting outdoor lifestyles as three of their top four community benefits.

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Recreation

RE-CREATION

TART Trails founding board member and longtime trail champion John Robert Williams reminds us that recreation is not just a nice thing to do on the weekends, rather it is an essential part of the human experience. It truly is a way to re-create ourselves by letting go of the day-to-day stressors from which we all struggle and find that inner peace that nourishes the body and soul. Trails are your four season ticket to recreate, or rather, re-create.

Placemaking with Public Art: More Art on the TART

We often visit art for the same reasons we visit nature. Both can invoke a feeling of awe. So, art placed out in nature can provide a double dose of wonder.

Art on the TART collaborates with community partners to make art accessible to all and engage trail users in thoughtful aesthetic expression. This past summer, the program focused on offerings around the Boardman Lake Loop. Globally renowned and locally sourced artists Glenn Wolff and Rufus Snoddy

installed Boardman Serenade along the newer section of the Loop. The mural of a loon on the water was completed with support from Northwestern Michigan College art students Kiah Anderson and Logan Hudson.

In collaboration with the Traverse City Arts Commission, a sculpture by Michigan-based artist Lois Teicher will be installed at the 16th Street overlook this fall. The sculpture invokes the essence of recreation on the Boardman Lake, resembling sails catching a burst of wind.

Finally, local sculptor and metalsmith TJ Carroll created Morai. The sculpture, constructed primarily of corten steel, is designed in a leaf motif inspired by the natural beauty of Medalie Park.The installation also commemorates the community-led effort to complete the Loop around Boardman Lake, with project partners and major donors listed on the leaves.

“Art on the TART embraces community building at its best by using public art as a bridge to broader engagement. When we share the arts in public, we share new experiences with a common bond—joy, new thoughts, our past, our present— and they can inspire us with broader perspective, understanding, and shared connection.”

— Mary Bevans Gillett, Convener, Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Network

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The More We Get Together, the Happier We’ll Be…

The magic of this region is that all four seasons offer something special and a new way to enjoy getting outdoors. Winter trail grooming efforts provide a wonderful way to get out and enjoy the snowfall and another reason to celebrate a change of season. Nearly thirty years ago when volunteers began grooming the Vasa Pathway, there was no way to know that less than three decades later the foundation they established would lead to some of the best nordic skiing the midwest has to offer. Winter grooming for nordic skiing now extends to the Muncie Lakes Pathway and the Leelanau Trail, not to mention the over 45 miles of fatbike trails groomed by the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association. Thanks to the support of the winter trails community we are

to expand and invest in equipment

thirty years of winter activities that warm the heart and

months of the year.

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planning initiatives for another
coldest
volunteers donated time Over $12K raised for RAB HRS 27 R ECYCLE A BICYCL E BIKE SWAP 155 bikes sold volunteers challenge teams 400 individuals 875+ 78 HRS 48 Free breakfasts served up to Smart Commuters volunteers Tour de T A R T Over $17K raised for TART Trails 104 participants hours Winter Grooming Program Keeps Growing Thanks to Local Support TART Trails hosted, partnered or participated in over 50 events this year. These events happened rain, shine, snow or wind - no matter the weather, the community showed up, got out and active, and helped support happy, healthy connected communities throughout the Traverse region.
continuing
upgrades and
soul in even the

Special Thanks to Our Event Sponsors and Partners

We’re grateful to the following businesses and organizations who sponsored, supported, or hosted events for TART Trails this past year.

Acme Fall Festival

Vasa Ski Swap Brick Wheels Vasa Ski Club

Traverse City Zombie Run Matt and Jennifer Ross

Shop Your Community Day

Downtown Traverse City Association

Turkey Trot

Up North Media

Giving Tuesday Silver Spruce Brewing Company Traverse City Tourism

Ladies’ Night & Men’s Night

Downtown Traverse City Association

Miner’s North

TC Trimdown

Traverse City Record Eagle

Winter Trails Day

Brick Wheels

Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association

Suttons Bay Bikes

Timber Ridge Resort

Traverse City Record Eagle Vasa Ski Club

Ski the Vines

Shady Lane Cellars

Grooming Appreciation Party

Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association

Oryana Community Cooperative Short’s Brewing Company Timber Ridge Resort

Ambassador Training

West Shore Bank

E-Bike Etiquette Workshop

Cherry Capital Cycling Club League of Michigan Bicyclists

Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association Norte

Spring Pumpkin Pedal Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant and Brewery

Recycle-A-Bicycle Bike Swap

Maxbauers Meat Market Pangea’s Pizza

Smart Commute Week 9&10 News BATA

Bay Area Recycling for Charities Brick Wheels

Bubba’s Burgers and Bar

Cherry Capital Cycling Club

Cherry Republic

Cunningham-Limp Dennos Museum

Einstein Cycles Farm Club FreshWater Textiles

Grand Traverse Pavilions

Higher Grounds Trading Co

Mundos Roasting & Co

Munson Healthcare

Networks Northwest

Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association

Northwestern Michigan College Olson, Bzdok & Howard PC

Oryana Community Cooperative Paddle TC

Rare Bird Brewpub Sugar 2 Salt

TBA Credit Union

TC Food

Tom’s Food Markets

Traverse Area District Library

Tim Werner and Petra von Kulajta

Wild Card Cycle Works

Bike and Boat Farm Club

Inland Seas Education Association

Short’s Brewing Company Suttons Bay Bikes

Tour de TART

Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network of Michigan Brick Wheels

C&M Insurance Services

Cherry Republic David Clark and Phyllis Kirk Fiddleheads

Grand Traverse Pie Company

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traversetrails.org

Great Lakes Potato Chips

Hagerty

Insight Optometry

Materne North America— Go Go Squeeze Milk & Honey

Morse Moving & Storage

North Peak Brewing Company

Northwoods Soda

Platinum Sound

Pure Water Works

Shady Lane Cellars

The Simonton Group of Merrill Lynch

Star Truck Rentals

V.I. Grill

Wunsch Farms

Leelanau Trail Open House Aroma’s Coffee & Tea

Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Open Houses

The Cyclery

Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes

Boardman Lake Loop Trail Celebration

BATA

Brick Wheels

The City of Traverse City

Garfield Township

Grand Traverse County

Norte

Orchard Breeze Flower Farm

Oryana Community Cooperative

The River Outfitters

Traverse City Track Club

Dune Dash

Matt and Jennifer Ross

Traverse City Horse Shows

Volunteer

Appreciation Party

Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant and Brewery

Oktoberfest

MAWBY Noverr Farms

Orchard Breeze Flower Farm Peace, Love and Little Donuts Red Path Orchards

Short’s Brewing Company

Additional Event Support

Gary Howe Photography

John Robert Williams Photography

Northern Michigan E3

Stephanie Kimball Photography

Top of Michigan Trails Council

Up North Pride

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Sustainability

Turning to Trails for Transportation

Year-round trail use has increased over 30% since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic and there are no signs of that trend slowing down or decreasing any time soon. This is good news for public health and the planet. Non-motorized transportation is an important tool for communities tackling climate change and supports the future of a net zero carbon economy.

Across the Grand Traverse region, improvements and additions to the trail network continue to encourage active transportation. We’ve seen the Boardman Lake Loop Trail transform how people change commuting patterns when they have safe and scenic ways of accessing desired destinations like libraries, grocery stores, and schools. Survey data on the Traverse Area Recreation Trail (TART) indicates more than 20% of all trail visitors are using the trail for transportation purposes. We’ve seen commuting numbers on the Leelanau Trail heading into Traverse City increase as well. Along the Buffalo Ridge Trail, we see a whole other group of commuters—school kids. With direct connections to growing neighborhoods and a direct link between West Middle School and the YMCA, the Buffalo Ridge Trail provides important ways for kids to commute whether to and from school or to after school activities.

Leelanau Trail Crew

There are a number of reasons behind the increased use of trails for transportation—much of it is due to our region’s commitment to developing and maintaining an integrated, year-round trail network making it easier and more desirable to be able to use the trails for transportation. And at TART Trails we’re working hard to continue to support a robust trail network.

Staff are engaged with Traverse City’s mobility action plan and serve on the Active Transportation Advisory Committee. We regularly work with Townships, the County, Road Commission and Michigan

Department of Transportation to encourage, plan and design for the integration of non-motorized access into the overall transportation infrastructure. We partner with BATA and continue work to tie together transit and trails. We are looking at both regional scale connections between communities like Thompsonville, Interlochen and Blair with Traverse City and the immediate connections within these communities that support daily needs like grocery shopping, safe routes to school, and access to parks and playgrounds. We know that if you make active transportation options easy, accessible, and safe, more people will choose to change modes and those with limited choice have safe and reliable options.

Thanks to the TART Trails, we can get pretty much anywhere we need to go on our bikes, and sometimes even more quickly than driving. It’s more pleasant, too. We’re able to enjoy the fresh air, movement, breathing in the actual world, and getting from point A to point B using the power of our own bodies, avoiding the noise, hazard, and pollution of traffic when we’re on the trail.

For us, life is easier, simpler, cheaper, and more enjoyable without a car. TART’s network of nonmotorized trails makes our commutes and weekend adventures safer and more meditative.

18 traversetrails.org FALL NEWSLETTER 2022
—Jennifer Yeatts, Smart Commute Rock Star

Built to Last

Thanks to funding from the Oleson Foundation and an easement from the Oleson family, this spring/summer TART Trails collaborated with SEEDS and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy to construct .5 miles of sustainable single-track trail behind the Oleson’s Food Store plaza on North Long Lake Road. This first segment of trail is part of a larger vision to connect Hickory Meadows with the Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area. There are over 250 acres of meadows and woodlands between the two properties dedicated in perpetuity to viewshed preservation and passive recreational activities such as hiking, bird watching, and forest bathing. This small but mighty pathway will eventually connect to the Buffalo Ridge Trail and points of interest such as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, Traverse City West Middle School, YMCA, Greenspire School, the Historic Barns Park, Botanic Gardens and beyond.

The Traverse Ridge Trail presented unique opportunities for training and education on single-track trail building for SEEDS youth corp and an opportunity for volunteer mentorship for TART volunteers. This preliminary section will allow partners to monitor how the trail is used, and inform future trail projects in the area.

Prior to her current role as CEO of the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Jean Derenzy held the position of Brownfield Coordinator for Grand Traverse County. In that job she was a critical figure and driving force in the completion of the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. In 2010 she successfully developed the Brownfield work plan that provided key funding to complete the Loop. More than just leveraging Brownfield funding, she was the lead convener of the partners (City, Township, TART, County) responsible for completing the Loop. Her work with Brownfield also helped develop the riverwalk in Midtown and along Pine Street.

In her current role with the DDA, Jean is working to make downtown Traverse City more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The Lower Boardman River plan calls for an expanded trail connection and improved open space along the river. Jean was a key supporter of the 8th street reconstruction in 2019 and pushed for cycle tracks in the design process. More recently, she’s been a lead advocate for better pedestrian and cycling infrastructure on Grandview Parkway and is one of the main funders for the TART improvement and extension effort along the City’s bayfront.

Jean understands the values of trails and has used her influence to help empower public support for community trails. More broadly, Jean seeks innovative ways to work with partners to implement community vision. She listens to the community and has helped find creative solutions and funding to improve trails and non-motorized infrastructure through the various roles she has played and hats she has worn. Jean is a natural convener and understands how to translate community vision into tangible results and is willing to work tirelessly to get that vision on the ground.

19 traversetrails.org FALL NEWSLETTER 2022
2022 Jim Mudgett Trail Pioneer Recipient: Jean Derenzy, CEO Traverse City Downtown Development Authority

PO Box 252

Traverse City, MI 49685

Providing and promoting a trail network that enriches people and communities throughout the greater Traverse region.

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