Most Commonly Asked Questions about the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail

1. What is the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail?

The Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, as proposed, is a paved hiking/biking path that extends approximately 30 miles along abandoned CSX railroad right-of-way going east of Elwell in Gratiot County, west through Riverdale, Vestaburg, Cedar Lake and Edmore. At Edmore, the trail turns south and runs through McBrides, Stanton, Sidney and ends at Lake Road in Montcalm Township just north of Greenville. Connection will then be made from Lake Road to Davis Park in Greenville, by way of county road shoulders. The route traverses through woodlands, wetlands, farmland, small towns and rolling hills. Trail users would include bicyclists, hikers, joggers, roller blade enthusiasts, cross-country skiers, nature lovers, school excursions and (in areas with a bridal path) equestrians. No motorized vehicles would be allowed, and effective barriers and patrolling are proposed as enforcement mechanisms. The trail would be open for day use only.

Over 500 rail-trails, like the proposed Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, operate successfully across the U.S. Several are in other parts of Michigan. They have become very valuable natural and recreational resources for the states and the communities they pass through; and they have helped to preserve a significant part of our nation’s heritage for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

2. Where would the money come from to purchase, construct and maintain the trail?

Fred Meijer purchased the CSX railbed. Funds for construction are coming from various grants and individual donations. Funds for maintenance will come from user fees, private donations, advertising revenues and grants. No trail has ever failed financially, and no community has ever reported that its trail was a mistake and needed to be closed for any reason.

3. Will my taxed increase because of the trail?

No. The Fred Meijer Heartland Trail is designed to work without local tax help. Even if it wanted to, the trail has no legal authority to tax and never can.

4. Isn’t this project taking money away from education and other pressing state needs?

No. These funds are constitutionally dedicated for recreation projects only and do not come from tax revenues. The people of Michigan voted overwhelmingly to add that provision, Article 9, sec. 35, to the constitution about 10 years ago. As part of constitutional law, neither the governor nor the state legislature has the power to change it. These funds do not come out of any other state program budget –the people of Michigan said so. Federal funds (ISTEA) are monies designated by law for development of non-motorized, recreational public transportation.

5. Would the Trail be a haven for crime and vandalism?

Rail-trails across the U.S. and Michigan have not contributed to increased crime and vandalism. In fact, law enforcement official’s claim that rail-trails are free from crime and more litter-free than the derelict abandoned railbeds they replace. Even so, precautions would be taken on the Heartland Trail.

Trail patrols, as proposed for the Fred Meijer Heartland trail, will consist of at least two officials during operating hours. The Trail will pay for additional local law enforcement time in order to issue tickets to lawbreakers. The trail would be closed at night. No motorized vehicles will be allowed anytime. Typical trail users, as documented in articles and use studies about similar trails, are families and individuals who value nature and outdoor recreation, and are not out to cause trouble.

FFMHT has contacted every police agency along every trail in Michigan. The following are representative of the comments law enforcement officers made about rail-trails:

ABOUT THE HART-MONTAGUE TRAIL: "I was extremely reluctant about the opening of this rail-trail. This department has encountered no additional policing problems with this rail-trail, and now I give this concept my whole-hearted support." Sheriff Fred S. Korb. Oceana County Sheriff Dept.

ABOUT THE PAINT CREEK TRAIL: "I support the trail because I find a lot of seniors and other adults use the trail for walking and exercise. A lot of children use it to ride their bikes on, thus keeping them off the roads where they may get hurt." Lt. William H. Waldo, Lake Orion Police Dept., Lake Orion, MI. "The trailway has been virtually trouble-free," Dale J. Marsh, City of Rochester Administrative Sgt., Rochester, MI; "The trailways have been highly successful and are welcomed by citizens in all of the communities involved." Sgt. Dale A. Romeo, Oakland County Sheriff’s Dept., Pontiac, MI.

ABOUT THE PERE-MARQUETTE TRAIL: "We have had very few complaints with the trail. The trail which is blacktop surfaced, is used by joggers, rollerblade enthusiasts, and walkers." St. R. Leigeb, Midland City Police Dept., Midland, MI.

ABOUT THE KAL-HAVEN TRAIL: "We have been unable to locate any information which would indicate that we have investigated any criminal activities on the Kal-Haven Trail". F/Lt. Darlene I. Wilson, Michigan State Police, South Haven Post. "The Kal-Haven trail has not created any significant law enforcement issues or problems for this department." Michael J. Anderson, Undersheriff, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Dept., Kalamazoo, MI. "Based on our past experience, I would highly recommend a Kal-Haven type park in Montcalm County." Dale. R. Gribler, Undersheriff, Van Buren County Sheriff’s Dept., Paw Paw, MI.

Many adjacent property owners have also had very positive comments about rail-trails. For example, Shelby farmer, Bill Field, who owns land near the Hart-Montague Trail, was quoted in the Ann Arbor News (5/22/93), "Undeveloped it was a nightmare, but developed, it is a crown jewel." Another Farmer, quoted in the Michigan Farmer (Jan 1989), said, "I am a fruit grower who owns .75 miles of property along the Hart-Montague Trail. To date, we have seen no evidence of trespassing or stealing of our produce from land adjacent to the trail. If you are fortunate enough to live next to a proposed trail, start making plans on how to capitalize on it."

6. How would agricultural spraying adjacent to the trail be addressed?

It is a fact that farmers cannot legally spray the existing railbed even today. The change from a railbed to a trail does not change such rules, but rather makes them more important and more visible. Cooperative measures, proven effective on other trails, are proposed to ensure protection of both the farmer and the trail user. For example, the Glacial-Drumlin Trail in Wisconsin has successfully accommodated potato farming along both sides of the trail for a distance of almost five miles.

The FFMHT has always sought, and will continue to seek, a cooperative spirit of teamwork and compromise with landholders, including farmers, along the Fred Meijer Heartland trail route.

7. Are adjacent property owners more open to lawsuits, increasing insurance rates, and falling property values when a railbed is converted to a public trail?

NO! Michigan Public Acts 26 and 27 (1993), legislation that was sponsored by the Michigan Farm Bureau, are designed to protect adjacent landowners from liability for injuries to persons that stray onto their property from a public trail (except in cased of gross negligence). In fact, property owners adjacent to a trail are more protected than the average property owner is. Studies have shown that there is no rise in insurance rates for property next to such a trail and there is no evidence that property values have been adversely affected by any rail-trail.

8. What can the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail do for local business?

   There is strong evidence that rural communities along rail-trails benefit economically from trail-related activity. If business owners and entrepreneurs along the proposed Heartland Trail take advantage of the opportunities, their success could reflect that of businesses along other U.S. and Michigan trails.

   Consider these examples:

   *In 1992, the Hart-Montague trail reported revenues from user fees up 33 percent, which exceeded operating expenses that year. Business owners also claimed a jump in business. Bicycle Depot owner John Bowden claimed his year-old business had gone "far beyond expectations." Phil Breen, owner of the Trailside Inn restaurant (formerly the "Dutch Treat") which now sells trail souvenirs said, "That trail has been nothing but a positi8ve thing for our little town. It’s not uncommon to see 5 to 12 bikes out front, which means a lot to a little town." (Grand Rapids Press 10/24/92)

   *When Fred and Sue Tobin opened the Kal-Haven Bed & Breakfast (named for the Kal-Haven Trail) in the small town of Gobles, MI, trail traffic helped make their venture a success. Said Fred Tobin, "We created a market, and it’s big enough we have to turn people away on weekends." (Kalamazoo Gazette (10/24/93)

   *"From May to December, I sold close to 300 bikes last year, and the year before I didn’t sell any bikes." Said Craig Carter, owner of Carter True Value Hardware in Byron Center near Kent Trails. Recognizing the business potential of the trail, he started selling bicycles and bike parts and service in his store.