West Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grants

Bay Harbor Park in Petosky which has benefited from the Natural Resources Trust Fund

a news release of the Michigan DNR

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) has been in place since 1976. It provides financial assistance to local governments and the Department of Natural Resources(DNR) to purchase land or rights in land for public recreation or protection of land because of its environmental importance or its scenic beauty. It also assists in the appropriate development of land for public outdoor recreation.

West Michigan Grants awarded December 2011 include:

• Belvidere Township (Montcalm County) is recommended to receive $59,000 to develop a fishing pier and parking lot on First Lake at Belvidere Township Park
  
• City of Buchanan (Berrien County) is recommended to receive $288,000 to develop a linear urban trail from St. Joseph River on the east end of the city to the natural prairie on the west end of the city.
  
• Charlevoix County is recommended to receive $300,000 to construct a 10-foot wide non-motorized recreational trail from Boyne City to the Evangeline/Bay Township line.
  
• Coldsprings Township (Kalkaska County) is recommended to receive $47,000 to develop Sands Park, including an accessible picnic shelter, restrooms, trails to the beach and parking area, lighting, beach improvements, grading, a maintenance shed and nature trail grading.
  
• Comstock Township (Kalamazoo County) is recommended to receive $300,000 for improvements to Robert Morris Park, including a multi-use building, pavement/concrete removal, sidewalk, topsoil/seed/mulch and storage building demolition.
  
• City of Dowagiac (Cass County) is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop Silver Creek Russom Park. The project includes construction of an entrance road, a 325-car parking area, a one-quarter mile paved, universally accessible walking and exercise trail and a universally accessible play area.
  
• Emmet County is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop a 10-foot wide multiuse recreational rail-trail connecting the communities of Conway, Oden and Alanson to Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
  
• Fred Meijer Ionia to Owosso Rail-Trail Development, a project managed by the DNR, is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop eight miles of paved rail-trail through the communities of Ovid, St. Johns, Fowler, Pewamo and Muir. The project includes grading and drainage, bridges and culverts, access management, site amenities and signage.
  
• Garfield Township (Grand Traverse County) is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop Historic Barns Park and Garden to include universally accessible paved trails, a picnic grove, interpretive center and site amenities.
  
• City of Grand Rapids (Kent County) is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop Pleasant Park to include play/informal sports and neighborhood gathering areas, barrierfree playground, sledding/rolling hill, accessible concrete walks, native landscaping and rain gardens.
  
• Grattan Township (Kent County) is recommended to receive $23,400 to develop a parking lot, trails, gazebo, two boardwalks with observation decks and kiosks at Seeley Creek Park.
  
• City of Hastings (Barry County) is recommended to receive $244,900 to develop the .66 mile non-motorized recreational trail from Tyden Park to the existing pedestrian corridor of State Street, including paved trails, a river overlook, restoration of the river’s edge in the park and site amenities.
  
• Ionia County is recommended to receive $300,000 for five miles of rail-trail surface improvements, surface grading and drainage, bridges and culverts, access management, site amenities and a signage system.
  
• City of Kentwood (Kent County) is recommended to receive $125,400 to develop a boardwalk addition and replace existing boardwalk at Northeast Park.
  
• Village of Lake Odessa (Ionia County) is recommended to receive $200,000 to develop the Lake Odessa Municipal Beach to include floating docks, walkways, new parking and security system. All will be universally accessible.
  
• Laketon Township (Muskegon County) is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop 1.25 miles of non-motorized trail along the entire length of Bear Lake Road to extend to an existing trail.
  
• Laketon Township (Allegan County) is recommended to receive $50,000 to develop a picnic area, soccer field and ball diamond at Township Hall Park.
  
• Village of Lakewood (Muskegon County) is recommended to receive $45,000 for improvements to Fox Lake Park, including 1,300 linear feet of six-foot wide paved, nonmotorized trail along the edge of Fox Lake, seating overlook areas and boardwalk
  extensions for viewing and fishing.
  
• Little Manistee River Weir, managed by the Department of Natural Resources’ Fisheries Division, is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop interpretive, educational and recreational facilities on the weir property in Manistee County.
  
• City of Lowell (Kent County) is recommended to receive $300,000 for improvements at the Flat River Amphitheater Park to include replacing existing concrete amphitheater with a greenspace park located on the Flat River. The project also includes a kayak/canoe launch, a boat dock, walkways and an observation/fishing area.
  
• Village of Luther (Lake County) is recommended to receive $84,300 for improvements to Luther Mill Pond Park, including a trail system, fishing pier, educational interpretive garden and updates to an existing parking lot and basketball court.
  
• City of Manistee (Manistee County) is recommended to receive $280,000 to remove and replace the First Street Beach House in Douglas Park. The new facility will be universally accessible.
  
• Mason County is recommended to receive $129,600 for improvements to the Mason County Campground to include replacement of an out-dated entry station with a new Welcome Center building, site entrance drive, parking/pull-off area and new entrance
  gates and signs.
  
• Village of McBride (Montcalm County) is recommended to receive $132,300 for improvements to Robert Lee Davis Memorial Park to include a restroom, playground equipment, accessible parking, accessible walkways and a new nature trail.
  
• Mullett Township (Cheboygan County) is recommended to receive $280,000 for improvements to Topinabee Lakeside Park to include site preparation, observation/viewing plaza, signage, furniture, plantings, fencing, well/drinking fountain, retaining wall, universally accessible fishing/viewing deck and play apparatus.
  
• Muskegon County is recommended to receive $150,800 to develop Rotary Park, to include providing access to canoeing and kayaking for persons with disabilities and a barrier-free play ground.
  
• Ottawa County is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop a waterfront walkway along 1,300 feet of Lake Macatawa to include paved walkways, boardwalks, overlooks and interpretive displays.
  
• City of Petoskey (Emmet County) is recommended to receive $300,000 to develop a 10-foot wide concrete path, trailhead parking, road crossings, benches, interpretive signs and native seeding for the city’s Downtown Greenway north segment.
  City of Petoskey (Emmet County) is recommended to receive $59,700 to construct a .37 mile paved, accessible non-motorized trail connecting Village Harbor Drive and Resort Township’s East Park.
  
• Village of Pewamo (Ionia County) is recommended to receive $85,200 to develop a trailhead with a pavilion, restrooms and parking.
  
• Richfield Township (Roscommon County) is recommended to receive $55,800 to develop a universally accessible fishing pier, canoe/kayak launch, accessible route for pedestrian corridors and interpretive information displays at Lake St. Helen.
  
• City of Roosevelt Park (Muskegon County) is recommended to receive $45,000 to renovate four existing tennis courts.
  
• Silver Creek Township (Cass County) is recommended to receive $298,200 to develop the Silver Creek Russom Park to include the construction of an entrance road, a 205-car parking area, a three-quarter mile paved, universally accessible walking and exercise trail, a universally accessible play area and an irrigation well.
  
• City of South Haven (Van Buren County) is recommended to receive $254,800 to develop universally accessible restrooms, pavilion, basketball courts and fencing at Elkenburg Park.
  
• City of St. Joseph (Berrien County) is recommended to receive $247,100 for improvements at Lions Park Beach, including replacing restrooms, adding an accessible picnic pavilion, improving access to the water and concrete walkway enhancements.
  
• Village of Suttons Bay (Leelanau County) is recommended to receive $240,000 to develop a 1.3 mile 10-foot wide non-motorized pathway with universally accessible amenities along Front Street.
  
• Texas Township (Kalamazoo County) is recommended to receive $300,000 to construct 1.7 miles of universally accessible, non-motorized trail from the Al Sabo Well Preserve to 12th Street.
  
• City of Traverse City (Grand Traverse County) is recommended to receive $210,000 to develop 2,900 linear feet of 10-foot wide non-motorized, multi-use trail on the Boardman Lake Trail West within a city recreation area to include picnic areas, shelters, seating, a fishing pier, a kayak/canoe launch and bike racks.
  
• Tuscarora Township (Cheboygan County) is recommended to receive $250,900 to develop a trailhead for the North Central Lake Trail to include parking, a trail gateway, landscaping, lighting, benches, trash receptacles, bike rack and universally accessible restrooms.
  
• Wilson Township (Alpena County) is recommended to receive $73,600 for improvements to Wolf Creek Park to include installation of a universally accessible restroom, accessible fishing platform, landscaping and crushed limestone pathways.
  

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Take Action to Save Federal Money for Non-Motorized Trails

from American Trails and other sources

Last week, the House of Representatives dealt non-motorized transportation a serious blow by passing a bill that would eliminate Transportation Enhancements. This funding helps pay for things like multi-use trails, and the Safe Routes to School program.

Highway proponents have always complained about the requirement to cover other forms of transportation, other than powered vehicles. Media coverage of projects that seem frivolous hasn't helped.

Now, it's the Senate's turn. If you care about getting around for transportation and/or recreation without burning gas, please send an email today! Links below should make it as easy as possible.

The Senate's version of the transportation bill (MAP-21) does NOT include dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program. However, Senator Klobuchar (D-MN) will present an amendment to restore dedicated funding to RTP at the appropriate time. (The amendment could be offered as early as next week.) This would restore RTP authorization as a stand-alone program, as well as fund it at 2009 levels.

ACTION NEEDED: PLEASE CALL and ask your Senators to support Senator Klobuchar's amendment to restore dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program in the Senate transportation bill (MAP-21).

"ASK" FOR SENATORS:

As a user-pay/user-benefit program, dedicated funding for the RTP should be included in the Senate transportation bill (MAP-21). Will you support the Klobuchar amendment to MAP-21, which restores dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program? This amendment makes the Senate bill consistent with language that is already in the House bill.

There is a similar campaign to support an amendment to protect Enhancements and Safe Routes to School sponsored by Senator Cardin (D-MD) and Senator Cochran (R-MS) in the Senate transportation bill



See Talking Points
See Find Your Senator
See read more at American Hiking
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SW MI Non-Motorized Plan Offers Free Bike Trail Maps

from SW Michigan Planning Commission

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission is excited to announce the completion of the 9 county non-motorized transportation plan and maps. The region wide vision created in the planning document is a tool for local and state agencies regarding the investment in non-motorized transportation around the region.

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission will update the 9-County Bike Map, and facilitate the development of a comprehensive, regional Non-Motorized Transportation Plan for MDOT's Southwest Region (Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren Counties).

The map includes the following non-motorized trails: Battle Creek Linear Trail, Holland-Zeeland Bike Path Network, Kalamazoo River Valley Trail, Kal-Haven Trail, Paul Henry Thornapple Trail, Portage Bicentennial Linear Park, and the Van Buren Trail.

Also on the map are mountain biking trails: Al Sabo Land Preserve, TK Lawless Park, Fort Custer Recreation Area, Kellogg Forest, Madeline Bertrand Park, Love Creek Park, Markin Glen Park, and Yankee Springs Rec Area.

A number of pdfs are available for planning an outing. Text descriptions of the trails give mileages, basic info, and contact. Maps are available in two resolutions for downloading. Note: the high resolution files are really large.

Non-motorized transportation plans seek to identify non-motorized routes for people to use as an alternative to traditional transportation methods such as driving a car. Non-motorized routes allow people to get out of their car and bike or walk to jobs, businesses, and community events.



See SW MI Non-Motorized Plan
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Manistee Forest Seeks Student Bio Techs

male and female Karner Blue butterflies (photo from the National Forest Service)

from Heather Keough, District Wildlife Biologist USDA Forest Service

The Baldwin/White Cloud Ranger District, located in western lower Michigan, will be hiring four student biological science technicians to assist with various fish, wildlife, and vegetative surveys between mid-May and mid-August 2012.

Technicians will work as a member of a survey team to:
1) inventory endangered, threatened, and sensitive wildlife species;
2) assess habitat suitability for various wildlife species;
3) conduct counts to estimate abundance of Karner blue butterflies, a federally listed endangered species, within designated management areas;
4) conduct vegetative surveys to estimate acreage of suitable Karner blue butterfly habitat within designated management areas;
5) conduct vegetative surveys to assess the effectiveness of different management treatments for restoring openings, savannas/barrens, and Karner blue butterfly habitat;
6) conduct electrofishing surveys to assess the status of various fish populations and assess the effectiveness of aquatic habitat improvements;
7) identify management concerns for use in developing management plans; and
8) layout and implement habitat improvement projects for wildlife and fish.

The data collected will be used by professional staff to develop management plans and conservation measures. Technicians also will assist with fish and wildlife management activities, complete detailed field reports, enter data into various databases, and participate in outreach activities to educate the public about wildlife conservation issues.

To apply for a student biological science technician position, please contact Heather Keough for an application. Application materials must be submitted by February 29, 2012.




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Village of Honor Hopes to Become Gateway to Sleeping Bear

compiled from several sources

26,000 cars a day come through Honor, Michigan, and HARP President, Ingemar Johannson, wants to see more of them stop in the small town with a big name.

For a number of years, Honor has been in decline, but the HARP group, Honor Area Restoration Project, is working hard to change that.

Of course there are projects like making a better sidewalk to make the community more pedestrian and bike friendly, and cleaning up or removing decaying buildings. But for those who love outdoor recreation, the town hopes to become a gateway village for visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Johannson said, "There is such great potential here. We are in a beautiful river valley. We have a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream in the Platte River." You could put in a canoe and float to Lake Michigan.



See Honor Area Restoration Project
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Notes from Admin

by JHY

Some of you may have noticed that there haven't been any postings here for a while. Once again, I 'm scrambling to try to make enough money to get by. I had great hopes for the Get Off The Couch website, as an income producer, but it hasn't really worked out that way. I was thinking that local places which cater to outdoor recreation would be eager to advertise on a targeted website. The reality is that most local businesses don't see much value in internet advertising. So...

I added Google AdSense ads to the site, and have had some small success with that. Of course, those ads pay nothing unless someone clicks on one.

That's doesn't mean I've given up, but I can't spend hours every week on something that pays a couple of bucks. I wish I were independently wealthy, but who doesn't?!

If you own a business in West Michigan that is related to quiet outdoor recreation (food, lodging, services, etc.) I'd be glad to speak with you about the extremely reasonable rates for targeted advertising. If you are a non-profit with similar interests you can have your logo and link displayed at an even lower rate. For more information, contact me: Joan H. Young

Anyway... I've recently become a weekly columnist at Mason County Press. The name of the feature is "Get Off the Couch - Explore Michigan." Each Thursday I'll share some current information about a place I've recently visited. There is a good chance that venue will generate some income in the near future. It's also good motivation for me to pick up the threads of Get Off The Couch, and get things up to date. I really want to add even more- there are plenty of places not yet on the site.

Other changes include plans to move the web site to a different server. That should be seamless, meaning that no one would even know I've done it, but it takes quite a lot of work on my part. However, the change will save a lot of money, so I need to do it.

You should begin to see more regular postings on this blog. Thanks for your patience!



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Michigan's Rails-to-Trails Carolyn Kane Nationally Recognized

Carolyn Kane is recognized in Washington, D.C. for her service in promoting and developing rails-to-trails systems throughout West Michigan. (supplied photo)

based on a news article in the Ionia County Sentinel-Standard

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy honored Carolyn Kane as one of 25 people across the United States with a special passion for trails.

Kane began her involvement with the Friends of the Heartland Trail in 1994. Serving on the board, the group has since created 37.5 miles of rail trail from Ionia to Greenville. They had to raise $2.3 million dollars to succeed in this endeavor.

Next, Kane went to work with the West Michigan Trails and Greenway Coalition, and is currently working on connecting 125 miles of trails that goes through six counties to make the fifth largest rail trail in the nation.

She commented, “They said what I had done was very unusual from all the other people. I have done so many things; I did the banking, worked on maintenance, I covered the whole gamut for what it takes to build a trail, and I thought that was really nice of them to tell me that and point that out. Whether it was administration work for trail building, fundraising, maintenance, I was there, and had been supportive for a long time as a volunteer."



See Rails to Trails
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Three Equestrian Campsites to Open in Pigeon River SF

photo from Backcountry Horsemen

based on an article in the Grand Rapids Press

When 15 equestrian campsites in the Pigeon River State Forest were closed three years ago, horseback riders were not pleased. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service stated that the move was necessary because the land had been purchased with fish and game monies, and those needs had to be given priority.

Now, three of the sites are being reopened. These are located on property which was not bought with fish and wildlife funds. They are also sites with no facilities. They simply provide legal places to cam, but have no electricity, water, or bathroom facilities. These sites were opened as a result of the Right to Ride Legislation which was enacted last year, and forced the DNR to develop recommendations for equestrian access.

The only site in the Pigeon River State Forest which had remained open to horse use was the Elk Hill Campsite. The number of sites is now raised to four, total. The reopened sites are near Cheboygan County’s Lost Lake along the northern border of the state forest, near Oxbow Creek Road in southeast Cheboygan County, and off of East Sturgeon Valley Road south of the Elk Hill Campground in Otsego County.

Equestrians are expected to be glad for the shift, but to be less than happy about the small provision for their recreation desires.



See Preserving Our Equine Heritage
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Generation X Gets Outside

bicyclists in Dayton, Ohio (photo by jhy)

from a report, the Longitudinal Study of American Youth

Do those 84 million Americans born between 1961 and 1981 do much of anything productive? Do they appreciate outdoor recreation? A new study from the University of Michigan, by Jon Miller, says they do. He analyzed the activities of 4000 people considered to belong to Generation X. "Generation X is the first generation to grow up in the Internet Era, and it is perhaps the most extensively wired (and now wireless) generation in American history." So it might be expected that they would not value natural settings or outdoor pursuits.

However, the study found that:
• 74% of young adults reported doing at least one nature hike in the preceding year and 54% reported three or more nature hikes,
• 65% reported going swimming or scuba diving at least once in the preceding year and 56% reported swimming or scuba diving three or more times,
• 41% reporting boating or sailing at least once in the last year and 23% reported three or more boating or sailing outings,
• 35% reported going hunting or fishing during the preceding year and 24% reported going hunting or fishing three of more times during the preceding year,
• 20% reported engaging in bird watching at least once in the preceding year and 11% reported bird watching three or more times in the preceding year,
• 13% reported skiing or snowboarding at least once in the preceding year and fi ve percent reported doing it three or more times, and
• 12% reported that they had engaged in mountain climbing at least once in the previous year and five percent indicated that they had climbed a mountain three or more
times in the preceding year.

Only 13% reported not participating in any kind of outdoor activities.

The primary focus of the study was on work and social habits, and the conclusion is that Generation X has turned into fine adults, who are competent to run the world for the next 20 years or so.



See Longitudinal Study of American Youth (a pdf)
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Michigan's Recreation Passport After One Year

"P" on license plate tabs (photo by jhy)

from a news release of Michigan DNR

The Department of Natural Resources announced on Oct 20 that the participation goal for the first year of the Recreation Passport was met and exceeded by Michigan citizens. The Recreation Passport, an optional $10 fee that can be paid at the time of motor vehicle renewal, is the new funding model for Michigan state parks and state forest recreation programs.

In 2011, the program's first year, the DNR set a goal of 24.3 percent participation by Michigan motorists. Final tallies for the first year show that the goal was met and exceeded, with 24.7 percent of Michigan motorists checking "Yes" to support the Recreation Passport when renewing their motor vehicle registration. In total, the revenue generated by the sale of the Recreation Passport was $18,816,500.

The DNR has set a participation rate goal of 30 percent for 2012. The price for the Recreation Passport in 2012 remains unchanged at $10.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson added, "We are very pleased to partner with the DNR in promoting our state parks and helping to preserve them for future generations." Johnson kayaks, sails and camps with her family at state parks across Michigan. "We have such an exceptional park system that truly contributes to our quality of life."

The funds raised in the first year of sales for the Recreation Passport are split according to a formula in the law that created the program. The Secretary of State's Office is reimbursed $1 million for administrative costs, and the state parks operational budget ($10.7 million) and the Michigan Water Ways budget ($1.03 million) each get an amount equivalent to the revenue that the former Motor Vehicle Permit (window sticker) system brought in averaged over the last three years. After that revenue is deducted, the remaining revenue for 2011 was divided as follows:

State Parks - Capital Outlay (50 percent): $3,043,250
State Parks - Maintenance (30 percent): $1,825,950
Local Park Grants (10 percent): $608,650
State Forest Recreation (7 percent): $426,055
Cultural/Historical Facilities in State Parks (2.75 percent): $167,379
Marketing (0.25 percent): $15,216

"Even if you think you will never go to a state park or enjoy one of our state forest campgrounds or trails, supporting the Recreation Passport is a good way to support your county, community or township parks, "DNR Director Rodney Stokes said. "Ten percent of the revenue is dedicated to a grant program to help improve parks in local communities."



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based on news from MSNBC

A Chassel, Michigan man, John Wallace, was mauled to death in Yellowstone Park in August. The bear was euthanized on October 3 because it has been linked to another bear fatality in July of this year.

Yellowstone officials say that the July attack was explainable, because the bear- a mother with cubs- was surprised by hikers, who ran when the bear confronted them. However, with the same bear being linked by DNA to the August attack, the decision was made to eliminate that bear.

There is about one bear injury for every 3 million human visits to Yellowstone Park, which means there is an incident about once a year. However there were none in 2010.

Visitors from the east, who are used to black bears, would do well to study up on the differences in how you should respond to grizzlies. In either case, running is the worst possible choice because it provokes the bear's chase response.



See XXX
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Isabella County Regional Non-Motorized Plan

urban bike trail (photo by jhy)

based on a news article in the Central Michigan Morning Sun

Norm Cox of the Greenway Cooperative has recently issued a report saying that the "best way to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety is to increase the number of pedestrians and bicyclists.”

Isabella County, Union Township in particular, has hired Cox as consultant to develop a non-motorized pathway plan for the region. Central Michigan University, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and the city of Mt. Pleasant are cooperating in the project.

Cox’s firm is the consultant hired by Union Township, in cooperation with the city of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella County, Central Michigan University and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to develop a non-motorized pathway plan for the area.

The plans are being made without regard to the political boundaries. This ability to create a region-wide plan may give the county a head start on creating a model system of pathways. Cox says this is unique in the state and that it will help with funding.

The plan calls for tying together existing bicycle routes, such as those on the CMU campus and in the city’s riverfront parks, with bike routes on or close to main roads, marked neighborhood collector routes, and wayfaring signs.

For walkers, it calls for construction of wide sidewalks in developing areas, and more crossing islands on busy streets. He said those make crossing streets such as Mission Street safer, as well as slowing traffic.

The recommendations include turning some four-lane roads into three-lanes, transforming the extra lane for bicyclists. Although this is likely to be controversial, Cox says that it makes the overall route safer because drivers become aware of bicyclists and pedestrians.

Perhaps the most controversial of Cox’s expected recommendation is to turn some four-lane roads, such as Isabella, into three-lane roads with wide, striped-off shoulders usable for bike lanes.

Long-range plans include connecting with the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, which ends in Alma, and the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail, which runs through Clare, with a trail through Isabella County.



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