Strategic Trails Plan highlights trail sustainability, economic well-being in Marquette County

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN) – An event was held Wednesday at the Noquemanon Trail Network’s (NTN) South Trails trailhead in Marquette to discuss a non-motorized strategic trails plan.

The plan found that over $41.5 million is generated by trail events and visits each year to Marquette County’s 900 miles of trails. During the pandemic, trail usage increased by 20 percent. This surge in trail use has increased resource demands, challenging existing management and maintenance capacities.

In response to these challenges, Eagle Mine partnered with the Lake Superior Community Partnership and the International Mountain Bicycling Association to engage community members and regional stakeholders, also known as the Trails Sustainability Coalition, in creating a Strategic Trails Plan for Marquette County. The Strategic Trails Plan is a partnership between trail organizations, land managers, and local governments. The partnership aims to build a sustainable recreation economy for Marquette County. NTN’s Executive Director Lori Hauswirth shares two main takeaways from the strategic trails plan.

“The trail connectivity is unsecured, and second, the second thing is that huge economic impact. You know, people have always asked, well, you know what, what’s the impact of trails? And we didn’t have that number. We didn’t have that study. And this was done by public sector consultants out of Lansing, who is, this is what they do, you know, and they’re saying, hey, these trails are important. They have a dollar that shows how important they are to the community. And I think that’s important. Now we need to piece together how they’re supported. What are the things that can be done at a local, regional and state level to whether it’s to improve legislation or bring in more grants or just generally more support for the trails,” said Hauswirth.

Sarah Lucas, the director of the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity, shares how the Trails Sustainability Coalition and the Strategic Trails Plan aligns with the state’s Outdoor Recreation Economy efforts.

“Communities that are successful in terms of accomplishing their economic and community goals are the ones that have plans and coordinated with partners. And so, the work that this coalition has done to bring people together and to put together a comprehensive plan around what sustains this really important economic resource is just an incredible example for the rest of the state and for other rural communities that are trying to build their outdoor recreation amenities,” said Lucas.

Wednesday’s event was also a ribbon cutting ceremony for the reopening of NTN’s South Trailhead, which was made possible through a $100,000 Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development grant. The addition includes new vault toilets, expanded parking lot, and a bike park. The project in total cost about $200,000.

To learn how you can play a part in sustaining Marquette County’s trail network, visit NTN – Noquemanon Trail Network, Trails in Marquette, MI (noquetrails.org) . To read the Strategic Trails Plan, click here .

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