Heartland Trail Tracks - Fall of 1998

Ground breaking for the first phase of the Trail took place on August 18th on the trail going south from Stanton. Wielding shovels were John Stafford (Greenville Daily News Publisher), Richard Allen (DALMAC Foundation), Franz Mogdis (Chairman, FFMHT), and Lena and Fred Meijer. An enthusiastic group of Trail members and family members were on hand to ride the gravel stretch.

FURTHER UPDATES! The section of Trail from Sidney north to Carlson Road, and from the Fish Creek Bridge north through Stanton to the Intermediate Office is now paved and open to the public for biking, waling, jogging, roller blading and skateboarding. FFMHT members invite you to enjoy this section as individuals or with friends and family. The bridge is scheduled for placement in December, 1998.

The FFMHT will be applying for TEA 21 funds this spring that will allow completion of the Trail south into Greenville, complete the section from Stanton to Edmore, and continue east into Riverdale. Discussions have begun with representatives from Gratiot County to plan a connection into Alma for the future. An exciting prospect is a total route from St. Louis to Alma , hooking into the Fred Meijer Trail at Bliss Road, and then continuing on through Riverdale, Vestaburg, Edmore, McBride, Stanton, Sidney and finally into Greenville - more than 40 miles of traffic-free linear park!

As you enjoy the trail, please remember to respect others who are using the trail at perhaps a slower pace than you are. Signal with a bell or call when you are ready to pass on the left and allow them plenty of room. Please carry out all papers, wrappers, drink containers and so forth. Leave the trail cleaner than you found it.

Fast Facts:

No local taxes are used for the trail-funding is being

Privately raised.

Adjacent landowners are protected from liability for trail

Users by Public Act. 26 & 27, in effect since 1993.

Friends of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Montcalm Community College, Voc.Tech. Building, Room #1. For further information call 517-427-5555 or write to FFMHT< P.O. box 455, Edmore, MI 48829