Planning for Connected Communities in Forsyth Township
A trail is so much more than a place to walk, bike, or enjoy the outdoors. When communities are connected by safe, accessible trails, those connections can support recreation, tourism, local businesses, transportation, and quality of life.
That is the idea behind a new planning and engineering effort underway in Forsyth Township.
Forsyth Forward recently received a $100,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to support the planning and engineering of a future non-motorized, multi-use trail network connecting communities in southern Marquette County.
The proposed trail system would focus on creating connections between Little Lake, Gwinn, and K.I. Sawyer, with the long-term goal of developing a roughly 10–15 mile network for walking, biking, and other non-motorized recreation.
While there is still a lot of planning to do before construction can begin, this grant is an important first step toward understanding what is possible and how we can build a trail system that works for our communities. Planning is key in getting this process started.
Why Trail Connectivity Matters
One of the biggest opportunities is right in the name: connectivity.
A connected trail network can provide people with more ways to move between communities without relying on a vehicle for every short trip. It creates safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians while also giving residents new places to exercise, explore, and spend time outdoors.
That could mean a fun afternoon bike ride together. However, for someone without access to a vehicle, a trail connection could eventually provide another way to reach destinations. For seniors, it might create opportunities for walking and staying active. And for people with disabilities or mobility limitations, incorporating accessibility into the planning from the beginning can create recreation opportunities that are often difficult to find.
Supporting Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Outdoor recreation is already an important part of life in the Upper Peninsula, and connected trails can help communities build on that strength. At Forsyth Forward we work hard to highlight the importance of building on this. Moving our community forward supporting recreation and tourism based economics.
A connected trail system in southern Marquette County could become another reason for visitors to stop, stay, and explore our township. Trails can support events, recreational activities, and tourism opportunities throughout the year rather than being limited to one season.
The proposed network also has the potential to connect with broader regional trail systems and complement them. The planning materials identify the project as a potential feeder into the Silver Lead Creek Greenway and a way to strengthen southern Marquette County's connection to the larger Upper Peninsula trail network.
That regional connection is so important. We don't have to think about outdoor recreation as something that stops at any given point. The more connected our trails become, the more opportunities there are for residents and visitors.
Trails Can Support Local Businesses
The benefits of a multi-use trail can also extend beyond the trail itself.
When people spend time outdoors, they often spend money in the communities they visit. Restaurants, coffee shops, lodging, outfitters, bike shops, and other small businesses can all benefit from increased recreational activity.
Trail systems can also create opportunities for events such as races, festivals, group rides, and other recreation events. These activities can bring both residents and visitors into the community. This creates new reasons to spend a day or even a whole weekend here.
For Forsyth Township, this is part of a larger conversation about economic development and community growth. A strong outdoor recreation network can make a community more attractive to people looking for places to live, work, visit, and build!
Building an Accessible Trail System
A future trail system should be something that can be enjoyed by as many members of our community as possible. That includes families with strollers, seniors, veterans, adaptive athletes, and individuals with disabilities.
The planning can identify accessible recreation as an opportunity for the region, including the potential for adaptive sporting events or even partnerships with health and medical organizations.
Accessibility is also about making sure people have opportunities to participate in community life and enjoy the outdoors regardless of age or ability!
What Happens During the Planning Process?
Receiving the grant does not mean a trail will suddenly appear next year. There is a significant amount of work that needs to happen first.
The planning process is expected to look at things such as:
Existing trails and potential connections
Land ownership
Environmental considerations
Preliminary engineering
ADA accessibility
Construction costs
Tourism and economic impacts
Workforce and transportation access
Trail surface options
Drainage
Construction phasing
Long-term maintenance
The project is being approached in phases, beginning with feasibility and corridor planning and eventually moving toward detailed engineering and permitting.
This work will help the community understand where a connected trail system makes the most sense, what it could cost, how it could be built in phases, and what funding opportunities could help make future construction possible.
Looking Beyond the Trail
The long-term vision is about more than creating a place to walk or bike. It is also about planning for the future.
The project includes exploring a variety of potential funding sources for future phases, including state and federal programs, county contributions, corporate sponsorships, foundations, and community-based support. Forsyth Forward intends to lead the charge on identifying any potential funding sources to move this project forward.
There are still many questions to answer, including how different sections would be funded, who would maintain them, how winter maintenance could work, and how the trail system could remain sustainable over time. Those are exactly the kinds of questions the planning process is intended to answer.
A First Step Toward a More Connected Future
The next few years will be about planning, listening, studying, and figuring out what is realistic for our communities.
The goal is not simply to build a trail. The goal is to create a trail system that makes sense for Forsyth Township, southern Marquette County, and the people who live here.
With thoughtful planning, a future non-motorized multi-use trail network could become an important community asset. There is still a lot of work ahead, but this grant gives our communities the opportunity to start asking the right questions and planning for what comes next!
As the project moves forward, Forsyth Forward will continue sharing updates and opportunities for community involvement.
This is the beginning of the planning process and the beginning of a conversation about how we can better connect our communities through outdoor recreation.
Lets move Forsyth Forward!
