To the editor:
The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail provides a wonderful way to exercise, get from one place to another without using any carbon fuel, and slow down to see all that is available. Segment 9 will provide the best way to appreciate the biodiversity, cultural practices, and past agricultural practices within the park. Designing a trail immediately adjacent to the road or crossing busy M-22 is dangerous with distracted drivers. The last 4.5-mile section of the Heritage Trail traverses some of the most beautiful and unique aspects of our wonderful lakeshore. The existing trail is awesome, we challenge anyone to find flaws in its design and construction. The extension will continue in this mode. While removing trees is always a concern when trails are built, the current trail has been done as carefully and respectfully as possible. Cleveland and Centerville Township boards adopted the engineered route in 2019 with public input. The design utilizes old road beds, road right-of-ways, and social trails for much of the route. MDOT’s completed flora and fauna evaluation reflected the Borealis report findings that no threatened or endangered species were found along the route. This extension will create closer access to the northern end of the park. Being out in the quiet woods is cathartic. As 45-year residents of Cleveland Township, we use the Heritage Trail regularly and look forward to using the new section, safely with our grandchildren.
Tom and Marie Sutter Cedar
