While the City of Dowagiac’s aspirations for an expansive system of public trails are far from realized, leaders have already taken steps to help integrate the city into a larger picture.

A picture that encompasses the four states surrounding Lake Michigan.

The Dowagiac City Council approved a resolution of support for the Lake Michigan Trails Network, a multiple statewide initiative to support planning and development efforts of land and water trail systems around the Lake Michigan region, during the council’s meeting Monday evening at city hall.

The resolution was presented to the rest of the council by Mayor Pro Tem Leon Laylin, the city’s representative for the Southwest Michigan Regional Planning Commission, which is organizing efforts to promote the plan in communities in Cass, Berrien and Van Buren counties.

The Lake Michigan Trails Network was started several years ago, designed to help coordinate efforts between regional planning commissions and other organizations across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin in the implementation of multi-modal trail systems that allow continuous recreational travel around the Lake Michigan region, said Marcy Colclough, senior planner with the Southwest Michigan Regional Planning Commission.

“There are many different organizations involved, coming together to make sure we have continuous trail systems, and to help promote them,” Colclough said.

The commission has recently sought the support of several communities in their three-county jurisdiction, especially those with connections to Lake Michigan or with extensive waterway systems, such as Dowagiac, Colclough said.

“The better support they get from the region makes it that much better for them to get grant money from the state,” Laylin said.

Dowagiac leaders have considered expanding on the city’s existing systems of trails in recent years, especially following the purchase of property on Cass Avenue, alongside Dowagiac Creek.

While separated from the lake’s coast, Dowagiac will benefit several ways from working with the regional planning commission. Besides having the Dowagiac River listed on michiganwatertrails.org, the agreement could help Dowagiac receive grant money for any future trail development projects in the future, Colclough said.

“Anytime you’re doing trail implementation, when you can show how your trail connects to the bigger picture, it will increase the chances of getting funding,” Colclough said.

Other business conducted by council Monday included:

• The scheduling of a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10, to consider declaring properties at 226 High St. and 303 Walnut St. public nuisances.

• Payment of outstanding bills and payroll, in the amount of $1,169,805.85.