FALL NEWSLETTER 2018 Photo: Ben Woodworth FALL NEWSLETTER 2018

Letter from the Executive Director This year, we celebrate trails dreamt of over 20 years ago that are finally moving forward. What do we dream for tomorrow? Well, it is both years in the making and still a spark in someone’s eye. Kingsley. Kalkaska. Elk Rapids. Charlevoix. Cadillac and Frankfort. Maybe one day even Northport. We believe the connections made over the next 20 years will support our vision of happy, active people enjoying a world-class trail system allowing visitors and residents to access, enjoy, celebrate, and support our region’s abundant natural and cultural resources. In the next 20 years, we see strong and healthy economies and communities because of investments in non-motorized networks. Like our first 20 years, we believe the passionate spirit and support of donors, volunteers and partners committed to creating and celebrating happy, healthy, connected communities will propel us into our next 20 years, and we hope you’ll join us on that journey.

Thank you,

Julie Clark Executive Director

Photo: John Robert Williams

2 traversetrails.org Special Thanks We’re grateful to the following businesses and organizations who sponsored, supported, or hosted events in the past year that benefited TART Trails:

Baird Building Miner’s North Bay Area Pet Hospital Monstrey MacDonald Bay Area Recycling for Charities Morse Moving Bay Area Transit Authority Mundos Roasting Co Bill Lancaster Photography Munson Healthcare Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Networks Northwest and Blue Care Network NMC Extended Ed Blue Tractor North Peak Brewing Company Julie Clark Bower’s Harbor Vineyards Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brick Wheels Northwood Animal Hospital Byte Productions Northwoods Soda Cavallino Café Oryana Community Coop Cellar 152 Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen Chateau Chantal Pets & Peeps Photography Cherry Capital Cycling Club Pets Naturally BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cherry Republic Planetary Coffee Susan Vigland Cherry-Roubaix Platinum Sound PRESIDENT Common Good Bakery Pour for More Chris Gallagher DDA Parking Services Press On Juice VICE PRESIDENT Dennos Museum Pure Water Works Mike Tarnow SECRETARY Disability Network Raduno Downtown Traverse City Association Linda Cline Rare Bird Brewpub TREASURER Dune Dash Red Mesa Grill Chris DeGood Earthen Ales Riverside Deli PAST PRESIDENT Einstein Cycles Right Brain Brewery Brian Fisher Ethanology Ron Christie Insurance Wayne Olsen Fifth Third Bank Shady Lane Cellars Kelley Peterson Garan Lucow Miller Short’s Brewing Company Laura Galbraith GoGo Squeeze Simonton-Hanosek-Mangum Ross Hammersley Gordon Food Service Wealth Management Group Rick Simonton Grand Traverse Pavilions Star Trucking Matt McDonough Grand Traverse Pie Company Suttons Bay Bikes Sara Harding Great Lakes Pet Memorial The Filling Station George Bearup Great Lakes Potato Chips The Kitchen Hagerty The Little Fleet STAFF Harvest Timber Ridge Resort Julie Clark EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hop Lot Brewing Company Tom’s Food Market Casey Ressl Inland Seas Education Association Townline Ciders DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Jack Pine Traverse Area District Library Brian Beauchamp Jimmy Johns Traverse Bay United Methodist OUTREACH & PROGRAM DIRECTOR Joey DiFranco Traverse City Record Eagle Chris Kushman PLANNING & MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR Jolly Pumpkin Traverse City Track Club Deb Westphal Larkin Group Two Lads Winery OFFICE MANAGER Laughing Larry Ride Up North Media Turkey Trot Chris Deyo Lucky’s Market Vasa Ski Club ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Mama Lu’s VI Grill Kate Lewis MARKETING & EVENT COORDINATOR McLain Cycles Vineyard to Bay Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance Werner Family Madison Meter TART TRAILS INTERN Milk & Honey Wunsch Farms Don Cunkle Milkweed Yen Yoga & Fitness RECYCLE-A-BICYCLE PROGRAM DIRECTOR Miller Investment Company Zombie Run

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saved the Leelanau Trail when he stepped up and made the down payment for the purchase of the railroad corridor Volunteer of the Year: when the Michigan DNR stepped away from the project due to significant, organized, local opposition.

Dave Monstrey I’d like to thank Paul Benington, the first executive director TART Trails is thrilled to celebrate Dave of The Leelanau Trails Association (LTA). Paul almost Monstrey for receiving the Michigan Trails and single-handedly created the Leelanau Trail master plan. Greenways Alliance’s Mike Levine Michigan He assembled a group of pro bono attorneys to defend Trails Volunteer of the Year Award. our ownership interests in the avalanche of law suits that followed our purchase of the railroad corridor, and Dave Monstrey has recorded well over 1,200 hours with deferred his enrollment in the University of Michigan Law TART Trails (and those are just the hours he reports!). You School for a year to lay the groundwork for the formation may recognize Dave as one of the leaders of the Leelanau of what we now know as TART Trails. TART Trails is Trail crew, out rain or shine every Tuesday and Thursday celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. in the warmer months. What you may not know is that Dave is both one of the founders of the Leelanau Trail I’d also like to recognize the group of seven dedicated and also the first and only president of the Leelanau Trails volunteers who make up what has become known as Association. He is one of the first recipients of the Jim the Leelanau Trail Crew: Dick Kelley, Dave Fisher, Gary Mudgett Trail Pioneer Award. TART Trails is so proud of MacAulay, Eric Braverman, Chuck Percy and Rod Stewart. Dave’s passion for trails and work ethic in preserving them. These guys and I show up every Tuesday and Thursday to ensure that the Leelanau Trail is one of the best maintained At an award ceremony held at the Capitol Rotunda in trails in the state. Lansing, Dave’s wife, Kathy Heil, accepted the award on his behalf and shared his message from the road (Dave’s Thank you once again for recognizing my work and that other passion, cycling, took him on a 3,000 mile journey of all the other dedicated volunteers who have come out west this fall): before me.”

“Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to create, build, and maintain a trail. I’d like to thank you for this recognition of my trail work, but I also would like to recognize some other individuals whose contributions were key to the creation of the Leelanau Trail and TART Trails.

First and foremost is my wife, Kathy, for her volunteer trail work and for picking up the slack at home for the past 24 years while I attended the hundreds of meetings necessary for the purchase, creation, building, and maintenance of the trail.

I’d like to thank Frank Noverr, who Photo: Gary Howe

4 traversetrails.org Introducing the Invasive Species Task Force This past June, TART Trails’ staff and volunteers attended a Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network training and subsequently formed a new segment of Volunteer Ambassadors, the Invasive Species Task Force. These folks have been hard at work all summer long, meeting regularly on Tuesday mornings to identify and remove invasive plants found along the Leelanau Trail. Working within a tiered approach, they have tackled Oriental bittersweet, wild parsnip, Phragmites and other invasives, helping preserve the long-term health and beauty of the trail.

“Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to create, build, and maintain a trail.” Photo: Gary Howe

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early development, at a time when the area was regarded as merely an industrial zone.

Project Update: “Okerstrom saw through the fences and parking lots and factories. He saw forests that would eventually mature Boardman Lake Loop along the shores and bluffs. He saw a lake that would lure Thanks to generous community support people from town to fish and boat. And, most importantly through private and public donations, it’s for Okerstrom, he saw a pathway circling the shore, a place been an exciting year of planning for the final for Sunday walks with grandparents and babies in strollers, 1.8-mile leg of the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. bicyclists, runners, and in the winter, cross-country skiers.” Jeff Smith, Traverse Magazine. Upon completion, the trail will create a 5-mile loop, We remember Ted’s foundational development of this trail connecting residential developments, commercial areas, as we turn the corner on its completion. Look forward to parks, and the library. The trail will also offer connections a ribbon cutting in fall 2019 celebrating the realization of to Northwestern Michigan College’s University Center this years-long community connector. campus, a pathway to the Cass Road BATA station, and a direct link to the Boardman River Trail. Prein & Newhof The Boardman Lake Loop Trail is owned by the City of have led the design and engineering process; trail Traverse City in partnership with Grand Traverse County amenities will include two new bridges spanning Medalie and Garfield Township. TART Trails works with the city, Park, a boardwalk through the southwest section of county, and township to support the development and Boardman Lake and public art along the trail. maintenance of the Boardman Lake Loop Trail.

The completion of this trail is a vision 30 years in the making. Roy Theodore “Ted” Okerstrom, also the founder of the North American VASA ski race, is to thank for its

Photo: Gary Howe

The Klepper family hosted a Boardman Lake Loop public campaign launch party at the Filling Station in June and presented Julie Clark with a generous contribution to the project.

6 traversetrails.org Michigan: The Trails State Accessible Michigan already boasts over 2,600 miles of rails to trails, more than any other state in the nation. Year-Round August 1, 2018 will be long remembered as a day that helped solidify Michigan’s reputation as ‘The Trails State,’ thanks to a significant investment Trails in a non-motorized trail Thanks to our partners between Traverse City for clearing the trails: and Charlevoix from the • Village of Suttons Bay Michigan Department of • City of Traverse City Transportation and the Michigan Department of • Grand Traverse County Natural Resources. The • Garfield Township $2.4 million appropriation • Acme Township from Lansing will help accelerate trail planning • East Bay Township Photo: Michael Murphy IV Photography which will close a 46-mile • TCAPS gap and, in doing so, A big check! $2.4 Million is awarded by the State • Johnson Outdoors create a 325-mile network of Michigan to accelerate the Traverse City to Charlevoix Trail project. of non-motorized trails in • TART Trails Volunteers! northern lower Michigan.

Thanks to your support, we are working to keep that title and showcase northwest lower Michigan as a premier destination in “The Trails State.”

Northern Lower Michigan Trail Network Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Boyne Valley Trailway North Central State Trail

TART Trails Little Traverse Wheelway North Eastern State Trail North Traverse City to Charlevoix Trail North Country Rogers City Spur 0 5 10 Miles National Scenic Trail Lake to Lake Trail (on Iron Belle Trail route) Huron Sunrise Trail

Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail North Western State Trail Alpena Path

Burt Lake Trail Alpena to Hillman Trail

Mackinaw City

Cheboygan

Pellston Lake Michigan Lake Huron EMMET

Harbor Springs PRESQUE ISLE Alanson Indian Rogers City River Onaway Petoskey CHEBOYGAN Millersburg

Charlevoix Posen Boyne City CHARLEVOIX Ellsworth Canada Creek East Boyne Falls Ranch Jordan Vanderbilt Eastport Hillman Alpena Northport OTSEGO Central Lake MONTMORENCY Gaylord Atlanta ALPENA Suttons Bellaire ANTRIM Bay Ossineke Mancelona Hubbard Glen Arbor Elk Lewiston Rapids Lake

LEELANAU Greilickville Empire Acme KALKASKA CRAWFORD OSCODA ALCONA BENZIE Traverse City Kalkaska Mio Honor GRAND Grayling

Frankfort TRAVERSE Photo: Gary Howe For more information, visit: traversecitytocharlevoixtrail.org

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Become a Member of the Sustainer’s Circle Our Sustainer’s Circle donors are individuals, businesses and organizations who contribute $1000 or more to TART Trails annually.

These supporters embrace our The annual Jim Mudgett Trail Pioneer vision of happy, active people Award is presented to a champion of enjoying a world-class trail system trails in the region. and provide critical funds that allow We also host a number of Sustainer’s TART Trails to play a role in how events each year. These fun and community members live, work, and informal gatherings give us an play through the transportation and opportunity to get out on the trails recreation opportunities we are able together and provide a chance to provide. for folks to learn more about the Every fall, members of the Sustainer’s network they are helping to support. Circle join TART Trails’ Board and Outings over the years have included staff at our annual Oktoberfest Coffee at the Caboose, Bike & celebration. Here, we provide Boat, Boardman Lake Loop walks, updates on projects, programs, and and others that relate to current what lies ahead as we celebrate all programs and projects. that we have accomplished together.

For more information about our Sustainer’s Circle and how you can join, please visit us online at: www.traversetrails.org/sustainers-circle

8 traversetrails.org Trailblazer – Trail User A Planned Giving Society Testimonials The Trailblazer Society comprises passionate supporters "When I moved here almost 5 of TART Trails who want to ensure the trail network thrives years ago from Texas, little now and forever. did I know about the TART Trail, and I didn't think it They are willing to make was something that would be a gift for today and meaningful to me. Boy, was I tomorrow by including wrong!! TART Trails in their estate plans. Planned gifts Now I am bicycling on it nearly can include wills, trusts, every day, mostly in Leelanau beneficiary designations, County. I'm addicted! The charitable trusts, gifts scenery, the friendly people I in lieu of flowers, and Photo: George Hermach meet, and the great exercise charitable gift annuities. is a necessity now. I am in awe Planned gifts help ensure the trail network thrives These gifts make it of the beauty here! I'm one now and forever. possible for you to give of those people who likes to more, and therefore have stop along the trail and take more impact. Planned gifts make it possible for you to have an impact it all in... the tall trees, wild sooner and they help individuals of all ages — including you — make native plants and flowers, meaningful charitable gifts. gentle hills and valleys, little Trailblazer Society members are invited to special events and are wild animals, ponds, lakes, recognized in TART Trail’s annual report and website if they choose to be. running creeks... we have it If you would like more information, please contact Casey Ressl at all here!!  " [email protected] or 231.941.4300.

Photo: George Hermach Photo: Gary Howe

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New to the Smart Commute Program this year was a collaborative project between Norte and TART Trails, Celebrating Smart the Traverse City Advocate Academy. The 8-week program offered its 12 participants a tool kit on how to Commute Week engage with government entities, local organizations, TART Trails’ Smart Commute Program and neighborhood associations in order to lead effective community change, with an emphasis on cycling and promotes the year-round use of alternative pedestrian advocacy. forms of transportation to encourage active, healthy lifestyles.

To do so, we collaborate with local businesses, governments and non-profit organizations to develop multi-modal infrastructure.

TART’s annual Smart Commute Week is held during the first week of June and kicks off a summer of smart commuting. By biking, walking, busing, or carpooling, Stay engaged with smart smart commuters enjoy free daily breakfasts hosted by commute workshops this fall local businesses. Participation in the Smart Commute and winter and look forward to Challenge adds an element of friendly competition to the celebrating the 25th annual Smart week, featuring individual, small, medium, and large team Commute Week, June 3–7, 2019! champions. This year, Smart Commute Week saw record participation, with 75 challenge teams and over 1,200 participants.

Photo: John Robert Williams

“This year, Smart Commute Week saw record participation, with 75 challenge teams and over 1,200 participants.”

10 traversetrails.org Rotary’s support of and major contributions toward the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, the Vasa Pathway, the Marsha Smith: Boardman Lake Loop, the Leelanau Trail, and more. Not only is her commitment to trails strong, but so has been Champion for Change her investment in the capacity of TART Trails to grow and Every once in a while, someone steps thrive. Bob Otwell, TART Trails’ former Executive Director (2002-2008), cites Rotary’s commitment as being part into a community leadership role and has of TART Trails’ successful evolution. Otwell explains “… a profound impact that alters the course of In 2002, we launched our first capital campaign to tackle history. In northwest Michigan, that someone several trail projects and pay off the Leelanau Trail. Not is Marsha Smith. only was Rotary willing to provide a gift to the campaign, but more important was their endorsement of our place in When you hear people speak of Marsha, you often hear the community. With the support of Marsha and her staff, phrases like “visionary”, “fearless leader”, “community our small non-profit gained the confidence to believe we figurehead,” “mentor,” and “friend.” She has lived in and could accomplish our lofty goals.” served the region for more than 40 years and changed the lives of so many throughout her career. We are grateful for all Marsha has done to lift TART Trails and so many others up and help create opportunities for Marsha’s pending retirement from Rotary Charities of active and connected communities, thanks to the network Traverse City caps a remarkable 25 years as CEO of of trails and walkable, bikeable communities she has an organization that has granted/invested more than championed. $560,000 into the TART Trails, thanks to oil and gas revenues from a property owned by Rotary Camps & Services. While at the helm of Rotary Charities, Marsha helped launch trails that now weave through the region, facilitated what became a Grand Vision of walkable, bikeable communities and supported the protection of significant natural areas that provide access to our region’s rich scenic and natural beauty. In 1996, Rotary Charities provided the single largest gift that launched the Traverse Area Recreational Trail (TART) and made the project possible. In fact, with Marsha’s leadership, the entire TART Photo: Bill Lancaster Trail network expanded significantly, thanks to Marsha Smith is your 2018 Jim Mudgett Trail Pioneer Award Recipient.

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Improvements to the Vasa Pathway: Active Every Season Year-round use of the Vasa Pathway continues to increase, thanks to the rise in popularity of mountain biking, growth of the region, and steady flow of tourism to the area.

To keep up with the growth, a slew of new improvements are either underway or coming soon.

This winter, we are excited to have brand new maps out on the trail to improve wayfinding and spruce up our signage. These new maps will make it easier for people, new to the area or just visiting, to find their way around and get back to the parking lot safely.

This summer, in partnership with Grand Traverse County, the warming hut at the trailhead got a facelift. The entire interior of the building was painted, including the floors, and more improvements are coming soon, including new bathroom fixtures and communal shelving space.

Perhaps the most significant improvements can be found on the trail itself. Volunteers have been showing up once a week to help with erosion control to improve the trail surface. A variety of work has been done, including leveling to benefit winter grooming and summer biking, as well as grading for improved drainage.

Over 200 tons of gravel-sand mix have been transported onto and graded into the Vasa Pathway to improve the trail!

Photo: Gary Howe

12 traversetrails.org Vasa Pathway Receives Record Support Thanks to the generosity of winter trail users, the Vasa Let’s Keep Pathway—known across the Midwest and beyond as a world class cross country ski facility—enjoyed a it Going! record year of support. TART Trails depends

The trail, located on on private donations state forest land, offers from individuals and year round enjoyment foundations for nearly and is maintained by 99% of our annual TART Trails in partnership operating budget. with the Department of Natural Resources and No gift is too small Grand Traverse County. and all gifts are It is the home of the appreciated. North American Vasa cross country ski race, Vasa Pathway skate lane and classic track For more information and the annual Iceman on how you can become Cometh mountain bike race uses a portion of the trail. From December 1 a donor or volunteer, through March 31, the trail is groomed for cross country skiing and boasts visit us online at: over 35 kilometers of traversetrails.org side by side skate lane and classic tracks. Last season, the trail was groomed 62 times with the last groom of the season in early April, thanks to an early spring snowfall. None of this would be Photo: Gary Howe possible without the TART Trails groomers provide world-class cross generosity of trail users country skiing conditions on the Vasa Pathway who get their grooming badge; thanks to you, we are looking forward to another great year in the woods riding, running, skiing, and enjoying this special community asset. Photo: Gary Howe

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Michael Gardyko Kim Garlington Thank You to Our 2017-2018 John Gerty Jordon Gibson Anders Gillis TART Trails Volunteers Chris Gladieux Janis Adams Doug Coster Jerry Glenn Steve Apostal Jenn Coyle Lois Goldstein Katie Armstrong Chad Craker Mike Goodreau Tom Auer Ed Crippen Courtney Gorman Barbara Auer Christine Crissman Larry Gray Lois Bahle Don Cunkle Polly Gray Kim Basch Yvonne Cunkle Angie Graziano Patricia Bearup Glen Cunkle Allie Graziano George Bearup Camille Czarny Kate Greene Brian Beauchamp Michelle Czerwonka Donna Hagan Michael Beauchamp-Cohen Bill Danly Bradley Hahn Barb Beauregard Pam Darling Mike Haley Ken Beck Robert Davidson Pat Hall Pat Beck Sherry Davis Candice Hamel Meg Benner Chris DeGood Ross Hammersley Jody Bennett Katherine DeGood Dennis Hansen John Bercini Bob Deneen Sara Harding Tyler Bevier Christine Deyo Ed Hargis Whitney Black Paul Deyo John Hart Ben Blissett Jeff Dillingham Dean Hartmann Emily Boss Jim Dombrowski Charles Hathaway Tim Bottrell Christie Dompierre Jim Heffner Rick Bowman Sarah Drews John Heiam Jodi Braund Steve Duede Kathy Heil Eric Braverman Dave Durbin William Heitman Brandy Bray Amy Dykhouse Sharon Hermach Tim Brick Kim Eising George Hermach Nancy Briggs Nicole Enger Judith Hicks Coryn Briggs Kristine Erickson Terri Hillier Brice Bush Brad Eshbaugh Margaret Hori Brian Buysse Martha Eshbaugh John Hori Elizabeth Calcutt Mark Esper Bill Howard Jessica Carland Hannah Eves Bud Huber Hattie Christie Brian Figurski John Huschke Chuck Cigrand Fran Figurski Richard Hutchinson Julie Clark Dave Fisher Angela Ingold Bill Clark Brian Fisher Audrey Jacqmain Linda Cline John Flesher John Jarmy Ann Collins Linda Flynn Tim Jenema Lou Colombo Michael Foley Tom Jewell Paul Conlen Sheila Franke Libby Jewell Casey Conn Laura Galbraith Laura Jewell Jim Cook Chris Gallagher Demarie Jones

14 traversetrails.org Chad Jordan Tom Olman Tina Soyring Dick Kelley Wayne Olsen Fern Spence Brian Kelley Tim Onthank Mark Spence Jeff Kessler Peter Ostrowski Gary Spencer Sue Kessler Bob Otwell Carol Spencer Nancy Keyser Laura Otwell Rod Stewart Marty Klein Dan Packer Jennifer Strange Randy Knopp Laurie Padden Bob Stuber Chris Kushman Ed Parker Debi Stuber Ray Landfair Betty Parsons Emily Taphouse Deb Lannen John Paul Carl Taphouse Kate Lewis James Pecott Mike Tarnow Eric Lingaur Marilynn Pecott Terry Tarnow Tammy Littlefield Julie Percy Matt Thomas Tracie Lord Chuck Percy Sallie Thompson Sara Love Steve Perdue Jill Thompson Gary MacAulay Kelley Peterson Kate Thornhill Shannan MacGillivray Curt Peterson Tom Thornton James Marinelli Gussie Peterson Karen Thornton Glenn Martin Steven Phillips Jeremy Treadwell Stephanie Mathewson Danny Pinegar Vinson Ulep Karen Mauro-Doren Robin Rabish Rebecca Ulep Larry Mawby Gordon Rady Howard Van Houten Matt McDonough Roger Raehl Nicole VanNess Kris McLain Glen Rauth Todd Vigland Linnaea Melcarek Kali Redmond Susan Vigland Michelle Mercer Judy Reich Marilyn Vogel Madison Meter Ann Reichert Marie Voss Connor Miller Robert Resh Alicia Walker Skip Miller Casey Ressl Molly Walton Carol Miller John Roe Jennifer Wassink-Groseclose Ben Miller Jeanne Rokos Tracey Weatherholt Melinda Mitchell Bill Rokos Mary Louise Weldon Steve Mitton Jean Rokos Jerry West Sandy Mitton Jennifer Ross Steve Westphal Dave Monstrey Mike Schaeffer Debbie Westphal Christopher Morehead Mike Scharpf Bonnie Willings John Morris Bill Schulz Christina Winter Geri Morris Bill Scott Dan Wittkopp Nancy Morris Mary Beth Sellers Patricia Wittkopp Jake Morse Bill Sellers Jim Woodburne Julius Moss Amy Shamroe Amanda Woods Joanne Mulder Christie Shore Peter Worden Dick Naperala Rick Simonton Andrew Worden Susan Norton Jeffrey Slocombe Meg Young Pat O’Connor Joe Slonecki John Olds Kacy Smith Carla Olds Rev. Kathy Snedeker Andy Olds Bryan Snyder

traversetrails.org 15 PO Box 252 Traverse City, MI 49685

Enriching the Traverse region by providing a network of trails, bikeways, and pedestrian ways; and encouraging their use.