At Forsyth Forward, we believe that understanding where our communities are headed starts with understanding the plans, research, and partnerships that help guide their future. Across the Upper Peninsula, local townships, counties, state agencies, and regional organizations work together to identify opportunities, address challenges, and establish long-term priorities for our communities.
As an organization, our goal is to complement these broader efforts! By supporting local businesses, promoting recreation, and helping advance community development opportunities. We strive to contribute to the goals and priorities already established by the township, county, and state.
One of the studies helping inform our understanding of the region's recreation opportunities is the Greater Marquette Region Strategic Trails Plan. This document was prepared in July 2024 by IMBA Trail Solutions and the Lake Superior Community Partnership. We wanted to share some of the study's key findings with our community. In hopes to provide a better understanding of the regional planning efforts.
Our Regional Trail Network
“Marquette County boasts an extensive network of recreational trails totaling more than 900 miles. These trails wind through diverse landscapes, from rugged terrain to scenic lakeshores, providing opportunities for motorized and non-motorized recreation throughout the region.”
While this network is a tremendous asset for the region overall. Maintaining and improving it requires ongoing coordination and teamwork. Trails can cross multiple jurisdictions and types of land ownership. Making long-term access agreements, maintenance funding, and collaboration among landowners and public agencies essential to each trails sustainability.
The Greater Marquette Region Strategic Trails Plan examines both opportunities and challenges around this regions trail netowkr. They help us to establish a broader understanding of the region's existing trail resources and where improvements may be beneficial.
What the Study Found About Trail Access
One of the notable findings from the report is that, although Marquette County generally demonstrates excellent trail access, some communities have opportunities for improvement.
The study's analysis of trailheads, parking, and access points identifies Gwinn and K.I. Sawyer among the areas where additional access opportunities maight be needed. Strategically located trailheads, parking areas, and greenway access points were specifically identified. These could help connect residents to existing resources and help to improve access within more populated areas.
These findings are so useful. They help illustrate how regional studies can identify specific opportunities from both individual townships and neighborhoods. They also demonstrate how understanding the broader trail network matters, particularly when considering local recreation priorities.
For Forsyth Forward, this information provides a clear framework for our ongoing work. To support recreation and economic development in Forsyth Township. Our role is not to replace or duplicate the planning efforts of local government and regional agencies, rather to complement them. By supporting community initiatives and regional priorities.
Why Regional Collaboration Matters
The strategic trails plan highlights the importance of collaboration. This can involve many diverse stakeholders. Communities, government agencies, regional organizations, and land managers, and more. The Trails Sustainability Program works with partners including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Noquemanon Trail Network, Range Area Mountain Bike Association, North Country Trail, Friends of Harlow Lake, Iron Ore Heritage Trail, Marquette County, Marquette Township, J.M. Longyear, and the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission.
Each organization and agency brings different resources, responsibilities, and expertise to the region's recreation network. Brining experts in to work together, helps communities take huge bounds. They help bring experience and knowledge about trail connectivity, long-term maintenance, landowner agreements, responsible recreation, and future investment as part of a larger regional strategy.
A coordinated approach is important because trails and recreation opportunities do not stop at municipal boundaries. Decisions made in one community can influence how residents and visitors access destinations throughout the region.
Understanding these relationships, we can better appreciate how local projects fit into a larger vision of progress for the Upper Peninsula.
The Priorities Guiding Sustainable Trail Development
The study identifies three central pillars of focus for trail sustainability:
Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Supporting recreation opportunities that serve a broad range of trail users and community needs.
Responsible use: Encouraging stewardship and appropriate use of trail systems to protect resources and maintain positive experiences.
Trail modernization: Improving signage, wayfinding, maintenance, user education, and strategic route planning.
The plan also identifies five overarching goals moving forward within the regional strategic plan. Enhancing community connectivity, securing long-term trail access and maintenance, improving existing trail systems and user experiences, providing diverse motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities, and supporting the regional economy through destination-quality trails.
Together, these priorities shine a light on the fact that sustainable recreation involves much more than constructing new trails. It requires maintaining existing resources, planning for the future, improving access. Ensuring that recreation infrastructure continues to serve their intended function, for both residents and visitors.
Connecting Regional Plans to Local Opportunities
Strategic plans and regional studies help communities see existing conditions, identify gaps, and establish priorities for future investment. They provide the foundation for informed decision-making. Helping to ensure that individual projects contribute to broader community goals.
The study's findings regarding access in Gwinn and K.I. Sawyer, along with its emphasis on connectivity and sustainability. Both illustrate how regional research can inform conversations about the future of our area.
At Forsyth Forward, we work to complement the planning and development efforts of Forsyth Township, Marquette County, the State of Michigan, and our regional partners.
We believe it is important for residents to understand the plans and studies behind these efforts. Sharing this information allows regional planning to be more accessible and digestible for our community. Allowing our citizens to see clearer picture of how decisions, partnerships, and investments are considered in the context of our future.
Strong communities are built through coordinated efforts and a shared understanding of where we want to go.
We must understand the opportunities ahead and how local organizations like Forsyth Forward can play a supportive role in responding to the needs of our community.
The Greater Marquette Region Strategic Trails Plan was prepared in July 2024 by IMBA Trail Solutions, with Mike Repyak, Liz Grades, and Forrest Johnson, and the Lake Superior Community Partnership, with Chris Germain and Rachel Raak.
