Sleeping Bear Trail Extension generates controversy

NOTE: Please see below for a response from TART Trails that clarifies some things & takes issue with some items in the Free Press story.

The Detroit Free Press shares that opposition is rising to a proposed extension of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail:

The National Park Service and a trail-promoting nonprofit organization are moving forward with plans for a controversial trail segment at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, despite a local township board and Native American tribe expressing opposition to the plan.

At issue is “Segment 9,” a more-than $15 million extension proposed at the national lakeshore by the Park Service and Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails Inc., known as TART. It would extend by 4.25 miles the existing 22 miles of Heritage Trail along Lake Michigan near Sleeping Bear Dunes from Bohemian Road to Good Harbor Trail, a nonmotorized trail connection providing access to the bay at the northern boundary of the national lakeshore.

Supporters tout the proposed segment’s expansion of nonmotorized access to some of the lakeshore’s lesser-explored areas. But opponents say the project will require boardwalks through sensitive wetlands and significant retaining walls through critical dune areas. An independent analysis conducted by Borealis Consulting of Traverse City and commissioned by the Little Traverse Lake Association, a neighborhood group near the proposed trail segment, found that the trail as envisioned would require the removal of more than 7,300 trees.

Leelanau County’s Cleveland Township Board of Trustees on Sept. 10 voted unanimously to rescind their 2019 approval of Segment 9, and passed a resolution in opposition to the plan as it stands. Nearly 40% of the township’s land area is in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore … The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians also expressed opposition to Segment 9 in an Aug. 26 letter to Michigan’s U.S. senators, Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Department of the Interior Director Debra Haaland and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park Superintendent Scott Tucker.

“The proposed section threatens to disrupt delicate wetland ecosystems which are vital to the environmental health of the region,” Tribal Chairwoman Sandra L. Witherspoon stated. She added that the trail extension potentially infringes on the tribe’s treaty rights in the area, and that the tribe calls for “revocation, amendment and reconsideration of any current or proposed federal appropriations for the trail Segment 9 extension.”

More at the Freep & head over to the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail for an overview of the Pathway to Good Harbor extension.

TART Trails emailed this today:

The Pathway to Good Harbor

The Pathway to Good Harbor, a 4+ mile extension of the SBHT, will offer non-motorized access for all ages and abilities to safely explore the National Lakeshore and the surrounding communities at a slower, more intentional pace. This trail will foster a deeper connection to the area’s history, resources, and natural beauty. This powerful combination of recreation, education, and sustainable transportation, is part of what motivates us as we work to make this vision a reality.

As the fundraising partner, TART Trails believes this project embodies our values of Access, Connection, Recreation, Collaboration, Health and Sustainability. Trail design is 60% complete, with careful efforts to minimize environmental impact, preserve the tree canopy along Traverse Lake Road, and remain outside the designated wilderness area. Ongoing discussions between the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the National Park Service will guide next steps in design.

The reported tree removal figures and design assessment are inaccurate and lack an engineering basis. They were commissioned by neighbors along the proposed trailway and a handful of Leelanau County residents. We know the rigorous environmental standards set by federal and state regulators will be followed by MDOT and the NPS, which previously delivered the 20+ miles of the trail we enjoy today.

We remain dedicated to our role in working with partners and the community supporting this important trail and its potential to offer safe, scenic, and enriching experiences for all. The Pathway to Good Harbor will connect residents and visitors to the Lakeshore and surrounding communities while promoting health, wellness, and environmental stewardship. This is a long-term vision we’re excited to bring to life—one we believe will inspire and benefit generations to come.