Kyle Storey, of the Manistee County Planning Department, shares information about the proposed SMARTrails system during the 2019 Copemish Heritage Festival. File photo by Mark Videan.
From a press announcement
MANISTEE COUNTY, Mich. – After years of planning and coordination led by the nonprofit Friends of SMART (Scenic Manistee Area Recreational Trails), the Thompsonville-Copemish trail connector is officially moving forward.
“The Thompsonville-Copemish connector represents a major step forward in our vision for a county-wide trail system,” said Rob Carson, president of the Friends of SMART. “It improves access for walkers and cyclists while creating long-term links that benefit both residents and visitors.”
The $1.75 million project was made possible through grant support from the U.S. Economic Development Agency (EDA) and the Manistee County Community Foundation Minger Family Endowment Fund.
AJ’s Excavating has been selected as the construction contractor, following a competitive bid opening held in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Traverse City-based engineering firm Gourdie Fraser, Inc.
The project includes resurfacing 3.4 miles of historic railroad bed with crushed limestone and installing a bridge over Bear Creek in Springdale Township. The bridge will be fabricated off site and installed before the winter snowmobile season, and is vital for future connections.
The trail will connect the existing Betsie Valley Trail junction in Thompsonville to Copemish, located southeast in Manistee County, along the rail corridor. This project is a joint effort between Friends of SMART, the Manistee County Recreation Commission and other collaborators. It supports the broader vision outlined in the 2022-2026 Manistee County-Wide Parks and Recreation Plan to build an interconnected, county-wide trail system.
The project also lays the foundation for future connections to Interlochen State Park in Interlochen, Orchard Beach State Park in Manistee, the City of Manistee and the White Pine Trail in Cadillac. Making these connections will bring the region closer to a seamless trail system that boosts outdoor access, local economies and year-round recreation, according to the announcement.
Final bid documents are now being submitted to the EDA, which awarded the project grant in 2022. Once approved, a formal contract will be executed, and construction will begin this summer.
The project’s partners:
-AJ’s Excavating, Construction Contractor
-Gourdie Fraser, Engineering and Design
-Manistee County Community Foundation, Grant Match Stakeholder
-Michigan DNR Parks and Recreation Division, EDA Co-Applicant
-Networks Northwest Community Development, EDA Co-Applicant and Project
Administrator
-Manistee County Recreation Commission
-Benzie-Manistee Snowbirds
-Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
-Manistee County townships, especially Cleon and Springdale, and the Village of Copemish
Friends of SMART is a grassroots, volunteer-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to create a safe, connected network of non-motorized trails across Manistee County. Community members interested in helping to advance future connections may donate or get involved. To learn more or support the effort, visit smartrails.org or follow SMART on Facebook.
