Forsyth Forward Receives $100,000 Trail Planning Grant

We are excited to announce a major investment in the future of recreation, connectivity, and quality of life in our community!

After months of planning and working through the process, Forsyth Forward is excited to share that we have been awarded a $100,000 Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) grant to support the planning and engineering of a new non-motorized trail network connecting Little Lake, Gwinn, and K.I. Sawyer. Forsyth Township is so excited to utilize this opportunity to connect these three communities. 

This grant is a huge step forward for a project that we believe can become an incredible community asset for Forsyth Township and the surrounding area.

The planned trail network will include approximately 10–15 miles of non-motorized, multi-use trails designed for walking and bicycling. The goal is to create meaningful connections between our communities while providing residents and visitors with new opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, explore our area, and stay active.

Throughout the grant application process, Forsyth Forward emphasized the many ways a connected trail network can benefit our rural community. A trail is more than a place to walk or ride a bike. It can be a way to connect people to each other and to the places they live, work, and visit.

This project has the potential to create new opportunities for recreational tourism, bringing visitors into our communities to experience the trails, local businesses, and natural resources our area has to offer. It can also provide an additional transportation option for residents who may not have access to a vehicle, while giving those who choose to walk or bike an opportunity to reduce their reliance on cars and their carbon footprint.

And, of course, sometimes the best reason to have a trail is simply to get outside. Whether it’s taking a morning bike ride, going for a walk with a friend, bringing the family outside for an afternoon, or exploring a new part of our community, these trails can create opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors together.

The $100,000 planning grant will help fund the detailed planning and engineering needed to determine the best routes and prepare the project for future development. We anticipate that the planning and engineering phase will be completed by spring 2027, with development to follow.

For Forsyth Forward, this project represents more than just a trail. It is an asset to connect our communities, expand outdoor recreation, support local economic development, provide additional transportation options, and strengthen the quality of life in our rural area.

“We’re excited to be a part of this project, we’re glad that Michigan has selected us for this grant, and this will be a non-motorized multi-use trail that will connect Little Lake, Gwinn, and Sawyer,” said Alan Cook, Executive Director of Forsyth Forward.

We are incredibly grateful to MDARD for this investment in our community and excited to continue working alongside our partners as this project moves forward. There is still a lot of work ahead, but this grant brings us one big step closer to seeing these connections become a reality.

This is just the beginning! We’ll continue to share updates, project milestones, and opportunities for community involvement as the planning process moves forward. Follow along through the Forsyth Forward website and Facebook page to stay up to date on this exciting project.

We can't wait to see where this trail takes us!