2007 Promising Projects — Protecting the Environment

As an out-growth of a grant made to the City of East Grand Rapids for the completion of the Reeds Lake Trail, leadership from the City of Grand Rapids and the City of East Grand Rapids were brought together with a goal of discussing and encouraging cooperation on an inner-city east-west trail connector between the Reeds Lake Trail and Kent Trails near John Ball Park. Subsequently a grant was awarded to the Grand Valley Metro Council to assist with bringing in an experienced and competent designer of bicycle facilities in urban settings. The collaborating partners and facilitator will examine route alternatives — likely a combination of dedicated on-street lanes and sidewalk — convene local businesses and neighbors along the proposed route and develop a replicable plan for implementation and connectivity.

The Little Traverse Conservancy along with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy have had a long-standing interest in protecting the Jordan River watershed — one of Michigan's most pristine and high-quality river systems. Recently, after the Little Traverse Conservancy was successful with the purchase and protection of the nearby 41-acre Jordan River Nature Preserve property in southern Charlevoix County, a neighboring family contacted the Conservancy to talk about the sale of their 85-acre property along the Jordan. The successful completion of this project would mean that 3 1/2 miles of a total 4 mile "spreads" region at the mouth of the Jordan River will be permanently protected. This region plays a critical wetlands-like role in retaining large amounts of water during spring melt-off and heavy rains as well as protecting Lake Charlevoix by absorbing excess nutrients and sediments running off land within the watershed. These fertile lands are also important to numerous wildlife including nesting waterfowl, song birds, otter, mink and a long-returning pair of bald eagles that nest near the northern border of the property.

Additional parcels in the spreads area are owned and protected by the City of East Jordan, the State of Michigan and through other property owners with easements on their land. The Little Traverse Conservancy will turn the parcel into a nature preserve that will be open to the public, likely with a trail system for hikers, students and anglers to use.