EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Ingham County Board of Commissioners (BOC) passed a resolution on June 14, 2016 awarding trails and parks millage funding to three municipalities in Ingham County for trail improvements.
A total of $788,863 was approved by the BOC to repair the asphalt surface of more than 13.35 miles of trails in the City of East Lansing, City of Lansing and Meridian Township. Of that total, the City of East Lansing has been awarded $198,000 to perform micro-surfacing over 3.47 miles of the 4.8-mile Northern Tier Trail. The funding will also be used to make ADA improvements along the trail.
“We would like to thank the Ingham County Board of Commissioners and the voters who approved the trail and park millage,” said East Lansing Parks, Recreation & Arts Director Tim McCaffrey. “This funding will help us to improve the asphalt surface and accessibility of the Northern Tier Trail, while also prolonging the need for future trail system repairs.”
The trail and park millage, approved by voters in November 2014, generates approximately $3.4 million in revenue annually. The Ingham County Trails & Parks Comprehensive Report identified 41 trail segments eligible for asphalt repair for this funding round, of which 39 are being addressed. Detailed information about what trail sections are planned for renovation is included in BOC Resolution #16-257 and can be viewed on the Ingham County Parks website, http://pk.ingham.org/InghamCountyTrailsandParksMillage.aspx, along with the entire Trails and Parks Comprehensive Report.
"These repairs will increase the life of existing trails and add value to the whole system," said Ingham County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Kara Hope.
"We're thrilled to launch a strong investment in the non-motorized trail system across Ingham County," said Trails and Parks Task Force Chair Teri Banas, who led an eight-member commission in a study that resulted in the improvement recommendations. "It's been our intent, after a thorough study of the system, to responsibly invest millage dollars where they can make the most good. These first projects begin a 'big fix' to the system that, with future expansion, will connect communities with a well-maintained trail system we can all enjoy and be proud of."
For more information, visit www.inghamcountyparks.org.