'Art-to-TART': Interlochen trail plan rolls ahead

Mar. 16—TRAVERSE CITY — Green Lake Township officials are moving forward with planned 3.5-mile recreational trail through the heart of the Interlochen area, despite recent setbacks and delays.

"Those hurdles aren't going to stop us," said Green Lake Supervisor Marvin Radtke. "There's too much desire for the project our here. Generations to come will enjoy it."

Estimated to cost about $2.9 million, the paved trail for non-motorized traffic would begin at Green Lake Township Memorial Park in the south.

Heading north, it would connect with Interlochen State Park, pass by the Interlochen Center for the Arts and continue on to "Interlochen Corners" at the intersection of J. Maddy Parkway and U.S. 31.

Local officials named it the "Arts-to-TART" trail with the hope that it will eventually connect to the popular TART Trails network in the Grand Traverse Bay area.

One major reason for the "Arts" moniker is ICA's vast assortment of cultural offerings, but that's not the only reason. The new trail will also feature more than a dozen sculptures by local artist Doug Gruizenga, who died in 2022.

The original idea for the biking and walking trail goes back at least five years, but was delayed by the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.

After initial engineering plans were released in June 2021, officials spent more than two years securing leases and easements from local landowners.

"The trail won't just be a 'work of art' — it will also be a 'walk of art," said County Commissioner Brian McAllister, who represents Green Lake Township. "We've had some fits and starts getting [the project] off the ground, but there's no doubt in my mind that it will get done."

Several major partner organizations have committed to the plan, including the Michigan Department of Transportation, the state park, ICA and the Interlochen Downtown Development Authority.

However, the project has also faced setbacks.

At one point during the development process, the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division suggested making the trail open to snowmobilers during the winter months, but that idea ran into opposition from the arts academy because of the potential noise factor. (Several faculty residences are nearby.)

Funding is also a challenge.

At a March 6 meeting of the Grand Traverse County board, commissioners voted against a township request for a $382,000 15-year loan to pay for engineering costs, as well as necessary improvements to parking areas, connecting walkways and driveways. The request came with a $25,000-per-year loan forgiveness clause.

"I have some concerns about front-loading — that's a lot of money," said Commissioner T.J. Andrews, who represents District 7. "That puts all the risk on the county ... I want to avoid possibly ending up with a study on a shelf."

Andrews also urged township officials to get an updated quote for engineering services before pursuing additional funding.

After some in-depth discussion, the board approved Andrews' motion for the county to provide $25,000 per year for five years for the project instead of the original $382,000.

Radtke said the board's decision was a "substantial impact at first blush that could set us back 18 to 24 months. If we can get the money, we could start in 2025, but I'm not sure we could finish it in '25."

Other challenges are also in view. Interlochen state park is mostly closed this summer for a multi-million-dollar infrastructure update.

According to the DNR, the day-use area of the park, including the North Loop will be closed all summer. The South Loop area is expected to re-open by Labor Day, Sept. 2.

Next, in spring 2025, local residents will contend with an eight-mile MDOT road project stretching from Sullivan Road in Green Lake Township to Reynolds Road in Inland Township. Road crews will be widening the road, adding a turn lane and possibly adding a roundabout at Interlochen Corners.

Nevertheless, local officials are determined to push ahead with the trail project.

"The community support for this trail is overwhelming," he added. "We may start smaller, such as the half-mile stretch from the ball field to Vagabond Lane, maybe first with crushed gravel, but I'm sure we'll eventually get the whole thing built."

Although Green Lake Township's year-round population is relatively small — about 6,700 people — the area attracts thousands of visitors each year —from concertgoers and boaters to RVers and summer campers at the arts center. The arts academy itself hosts about 550 students each year, plus faculty and staff.

Providing a safe way to bike and walk through the area, away from busy thoroughfares, is a key reason for the new trail, officials said.

Julie Clark, CEO of TART Trails Inc., said her organization "absolutely" supports of the Interlochen trail project.

"In our surveys, trails are one of our most frequently requested features," she said. "Residents want safe and comfortable, non-motorized trail networks. We comment Green Lake Township for thinking regionally, and for adding to the over 100 miles of trails already in the Grand Traverse area."

John Chase, director of the county parks and recreation department, echoed Clark's endorsement, adding that non-motorized transportation options are increasingly popular nationwide because they offer multiple benefits.

"Walking and cycling combines exercise and travel in a way that also reduces congestion on the roads," he said. "In fact walking has been called the single best way to exercise for the majority of people — no equipment required. In my view, movement is medicine and any form of movement is beautiful."

The popularity of non-motorized trails has skyrocketed since the late 1980s when the first "rails-to-trails" projects began. Today, Michigan has more than 4,020 miles of state-designated hiking trails and 2,085 miles of state-designated biking trails.

Many more trail miles are on the way, said Clark, including the long-awaited Nakwema (nah-KWAY-mah) trailway that will connect the Traverse City with Charlevoix.

The name Nakwema means "where paths connect" in Ojibwe.

In the meantime, Radtke says he "remains hopeful and optimistic" about the new trail project in Green Lake Township. "This will definitely happen."