Schleiffarth family donation to develop ecosystems trail in Cedar Grove Wetland Preserve

ONEKAMA — The Portage Lake Watershed Forever has received a donation from Matthew and Amy Schleiffarth to develop an ecosystems trail in the Cedar Grove Wetland Preserve in memory of Matthew’s sister, Melissa Gail Schleiffarth.

According to a Sept. 26 news release, the gift of an ecological native habitat trail given to PLWF memorializes Melissa Gail Schleiffarth, who died in a tragic car accident in her hometown, St. Louis, Missouri in 1995.

The Schleiffarth family’s roots go back four generations in the Portage Lake and Michigan Lake area.

“Melissa, our parents, and my seven brothers came to Onekama every summer of our lives,” Matthew Schleiffarth said. “Our mother and father, Gail and Jack Schleiffarth, met in Onekama, and our maternal great-grandparents had a cottage on Andy’s Point, about a half mile from the proposed trail, and our paternal great-grandparents’ cottage was two miles away on Lake Michigan. The two lakes were the gathering place for grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and are filled with memories of the things Melissa loved water-skiing, sailing, hiking and playing in the woods.”

The idea for the trail project coincided with the PLWF’s purchase of the Cedar Grove Wetland Preserve from Onekama Township two years ago.

The circular trail will be a combination of gravel and boardwalk. It will allow the public to traverse seamlessly and safely through the cedar woodland and wetlands while observing native ecosystems, birds, waterfowl and natural habitats.

Hollingsworth said many steps are involved in the development process, including surveying, securing permits, and engineering. Construction is expected to start as early as 2025, with a planned open date of sometime in 2026. Benches and a memorial marker are part of the plan.

“Consistent with our mission, the PLWF purchased the land for community and educational purposes,” says PLWF President Hollingsworth. “A trail and boardwalk in the Cedar Grove Preserve presents the perfect opportunity for people of all ages to explore the property’s ecological features, from the wetlands to the cedar forest, features of area they otherwise would not have access to.”

The trail will likely be wheelchair accessible. The entrance to the trail is off Seymour Street and the public must walk or bike to the entrance, as parking is not permitted on Seymour Street.

“We are grateful to the Schleiffarth family for their generous gift in memory of their beloved sister and for the support from other donors and the community for this project. The more people interact with the property, the more likely they will be to appreciate the native beauty of this area and the necessity for keeping our streams, wetlands, and lake clean and healthy for generations to come,” Hollingsworth said.

“The location of the Melissa Gail Schleiffarth Memorial Trail between our grandparents’ cottages is the biggest reason we want to memorialize Melissa in this way,” Matthew Schleiffarth said. “Others from my family and I have fond memories of looking for wildflowers, observing butterflies and catching grasshoppers with our grandmother. Sharing these experiences with future generations is an honor.”