A number of trails throughout southwest Michigan, including Madeline Bertrand Park in Niles and T.K. Lawless Park in Cassopolis, are setting the stage for a regional trail network that will connect people throughout the area.
The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration and Michigan Department of Transportation, has completed the Southwest Michigan Road and Trail Bicycle Guide and nine-county planning document, “Connecting Communities: A Regional Vision for Non-motorized Transportation in Southwest Michigan.”
The guide features the nine counties in southwest Michigan: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and VanBuren. More than 200 jurisdictions contributed to the project along with many trail groups and residents from the region.
The plan presents a vision which will provide direction for municipalities and organizations to work toward a connected system of trails and bike lanes.
The road and bicycle trail guide can be picked up at bicycle shops and city, village and county administration offices.
Electronic versions of the map are available at www.swmpc.org/smar_plan.asp.
For more information about the project, map or non-motorized transportation in the area, contact Suzann Flowers at (269) 925-1137 ext. 17 or flowerss@swmpc.org.