2024 Leelanau Trail Report to Funders

LEELANAU TRAIL FUNDERS REPORT 2024

CELEBRATING AGRICULTURE

As you explore the Leelanau Trail, you witness the importance of agriculture in this region. You pass cherry tree orchards, the occasional vineyard, vegetable farms, and even potato barns. The former railroad line, which now hosts the Leelanau Trail, delivered lumber to ships in this region to send to Chicago. These lumber connections of the 1900s allowed Northern Michigan potato farmers to develop strong ties to Chicago buyers who brought a high demand for potatoes from the rich soils of Northern Michigan. Potato farming dominated the region. Several storage warehouses were built along the rail line to expedite the shipping process. Boxcars picked up potatoes along the rail line to Traverse City.

To honor this agricultural history within the region, the Leelanau Trail Crew volunteers are in the process of restoring the Potato Barn, located near mile marker 12. This past October, TART Trails staff and the Leelanau Trail Crew explored the Barn, imagining how the barn was utilized more than 100 years ago.

Today, farms, gardens, vineyards, and wineries sprinkled along the Leelanau Trail serve as important economic engines for the region. Countless farms and vineyards serve as intriguing pull-off locations while on the trail. These agricultural practices contribute to and maintain the strong local food movement in northern Michigan. As the movement continues to grow and as farms pop up, the Leelanau Trail will provide an important alternative transportation corridor for the workforce needed along the Leelanau Peninsula.

INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF “One of the best parts of TRAIL USERS the Leelanau Trail is that I can ride my bike for many, many miles without the worry of traffic. The trail is an invaluable asset to our region. Safety is top notch, the trail is wellmaintained, and the access points and parking lots are in great locations.”

TIM VANDER MEULEN Local Trail User

As farmers in Leelanau County tend to their crops, replenishing the nutrients in their soils, they invest in the future health and well-being of the land around them.

Similarly, TART Trails wishes to do the same with the Leelanau Trail. TART Trails is currently exploring a Leelanau Trail Endowment Fund to improve and maintain this trail for many generations to come with greater financial certainty. Let’s ensure that our youngest recreators and commuters enjoy an even better Leelanau Trail, tomorrow and for generations to come.

This effort for continual investment supports the more than 290,000 annual trail visitors and strengthens the efforts of the powerful volunteers who contribute over 2,400 volunteer hours per year. Trails are for the community, by the community. We are incredibly grateful for this tremendous support.

VOLUNTEER EFFORTS THANK YOU!

LEELANAU TRAIL CREW

As always, the Leelanau Trail Crew continues to maintain and elevate the Leelanau Trail, striving to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all trail users. Our highly skilled volunteers stabilized the foundation of the Potato Barn, cleared fallen and leaning trees, graded trail shoulders, cleared culverts to improve drainage, mowed, and removed snow. They installed benches, placed signage, sealed cracks in the trail, improved intersection visibility, and even more. In total, the Leelanau Trail Crew contributed 2,215 hours of their time to our trail. We're incredibly grateful for your time and energy!

INVASIVE SPECIES CREW The Invasive Species Crew controlled the spread of Wild Parsnip, Garlic Mustard, and Purple Loosestrife. While not entirely absent, the quantity of these invasive species became much more manageable in the last year. The team provided significant support for the Hoxsie property trail management project.

These incredible volunteers continue to work with the DeYoung Conservancy, limiting the presence of invasive species on the adjoining property. With the addition of a new work vehicle, the John Deere Gator, the Invasive Species Crew is prepared for an even more successful year. In total, this crew contributed more than 230 hours to maintaining ecosystem health along the trail. Great work!

2023 SUMMARY EPHEMERAL PROJECTS Reconstruction of trail shoulder at Richter Road Expanded the crossing to improve visibility and safety Stabilization of historic potato barn structure Restored the foundation integrity for future use Trailside art installation Commissioned three pieces of art to enrich the trail user experience Hansen Plaza Connector Expanding the north end of the trail for more and better access

PERENNIAL PROJECTS Downed/leaning tree clearing and removal Trail shoulder grading Culvert clearing Mowing and trimming Snow plowing Sign installation/replacement Bench installation Invasive species removal Crack sealing Equipment maintenance Intersection visibility trimming/clearing Sand/leaf/debris clearing General trail cleanup

THE YEAR AHEAD Fouch Rd Trailhead Make Over We’re thrilled to announce that we’re officially under contract to revitalize the Fouch Road Trailhead! The upgrades will include an expanded paved parking lot, improved stormwater management, a slightly repositioned trail, a water station, and a stunning art installation. Construction will be completed by late fall. With the trail’s growing popularity, we’re excited to enhance access and amenities for all trail users. We will be sure to share updates on this exciting project!

Engineering Culvert and Covered Bridge at Leo Creek The old culvert at Leo Creek, a piece of history from the railroad days, is due for a muchneeded replacement. We’re planning to enhance the trail with a new small-span bridge, a beautiful covered structure inspired by Dave Monstrey’s vision of the Bahle Memorial Bridge. If a covered bridge isn’t feasible, a gateway structure will be our alternative. Stay tuned for more updates as we work to make the Leelanau Trail even better for everyone!

Interpretative Panels This summer we will be installing new interpretative panels on four kiosks along the Leelanau Trail at Cherry Bend, Fouch, Shady Lane, and 4th St trailheads. These new panels will not only tell the story of the trail's origins but also celebrate Anishinabek history, showcase local agriculture, and feature the latest art installations along the corridor. We hope that these vibrant new additions will enrich the trail user experience and connect folks to our community’s heritage.

Etiquette Campaign Deeply instilled in our core values is the drive to foster inclusivity and promote the enjoyment of outdoor spaces for individuals of all ages and abilities, emphasizing recreation, well-being, and convenient transportation options. Encapsulated by the 'Three C's' – Courtesy, Caution, and Control, our ongoing efforts center on education and trail design to create thriving communities that celebrate the outdoors and active lifestyles.

We are committed to enhancing visibility and safety by continuing to install prominent signage at key intersections and high-traffic areas. Collaborating with our governmental partners, we work to install speed limit signs and road striping. We have created an extensive multi-media campaign to reach trail user audiences. And we’ve deployed TART Trails Ambassadors with tangible incentives rewarding folks for awesome trail behavior.

Conceptual Design, Nik Burkhart, 2024

ART ON THE TART Through the installation of works of art, TART Trails aims to illustrate the rich cultural identity of the Grand Traverse region and speak to the natural setting that is northwest Lower Michigan, while supporting working artists in our community. At this intersection of artistic encounter, educational enrichment, and physical activity, everyone who traverses the trail benefits. By sharing these stories and artistic experiences, we are creating an environment where everyone feels welcome to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

CURRENT AND UPCOMING Sculptural Panel Installation | Nik Burkhart We have commissioned local artist Nik Burkhart to create a functional panel sculpture in conjunction with the redesign and construction of the Fouch Road Trailhead.

Burkhart’s work will explore the history of transportation in the Leelanau Trail/Lake Leelanau corridor, featuring an Anishinaabeg birch bark canoe, a steamship, and a historical map of the region.

Interstate Now UROK | Scott Froschauer By using the materials and visual language of street signs, but replacing the traditional negative wording (Stop, Do Not Enter, Wrong Way…) with positive affirmations, Froschauer’s “The Word on the Street” series seeks to provide something that is missing from our daily visual diet.

Ecstatic Dance | Bill Allen Installed in the fall of 2023, Allen’s enchanted woodland nature spirits have found a new home amongst the cedars along the Leelanau Trail. This cast of characters seems to be interacting in a sacred dance or ritual, on display for all trail users to witness, and for some to take part.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES Thank you for joining TART Trails in our mission to provide and promote a trail network that enriches people and communities throughout the greater Traverse region. Together, we are enriching our community today and shaping an active and healthy future for generations to come. We look forward to maintaining and growing this world-class trail corridor with you.

JULIE CLARK, CEO julie@traversetrails.org

CASEY RESSL, Development Director casey@traversetrails.org

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