River Bends May Connect to Macomb Orchard Trail by 2013

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will pay $300,000 to connect River Bends Park to the Macomb Orchard Trail.

In a news release, the DNR said the Shelby Township project has been approved as part of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF), which recently recommended to the Michigan Legislature to approve 76 recreation development projects and land acquisitions totaling $23,538,700.

"Michigan’s natural resources and recreation opportunities are a big part of what is driving our state’s reinvention,” said Gov. Rick Snyder. "I applaud the Trust Fund board for recommending the kind of investment that builds on the appeal of our great outdoor spaces for long-term economic and quality-of-life rewards in communities throughout Michigan.”

The Trust Fund board’s recommendations will go to the Michigan Legislature for review as part of the appropriations process. The Legislature then forwards a bill to the governor for his approval.

All projects of the eligible applications were evaluated based on scoring criteria developed by the MNRTF board. Shelby had submitted three projects, but the Macomb Orchard Trail was the only one to be approved.

Path to Connect Utica and Shelby to Macomb Orchard Trail

If the grant money is approved, by 2013, hikers and bikers will be able to traverse the western part of Utica and Shelby Township and head into either northern Macomb or Oakland counties.

"In our grant we indicate that it’s going to connect the last three-mile gap to connect you to 44-plus Macomb County regional trails including to the Clinton River into Rochester and north to Lake Orion," said Shelby Township Parks and Recreation Business Director Cynthia Martel.

The three-mile proposed trail will run continuously:

• West through River Bends Park
• North on Ryan Road through Holland Ponds
• West along the Yates Cider Mill Trail
• North through Gene Shepherd Park
• West on 23 Mile Road
• And connect to the Macomb Orchard Trail at Dequindre Road south of 24 Mile Road.
• From there, the path splits off into either Oakland County or Macomb County via Stony Creek. 

Simoltaneously, work will begin in 2013 to connect the last leg of the Hike and Bike Trail in Utica. Auburn Road will be connected to an existing path in River Bends Park.

The County's goal for the Macomb Orchard Trail is to build a 70-mile continuous trail that will stretch from central to northern Macomb County.