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Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan: Public Access Inventory and Linkages

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Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan: Public Access Inventory and Linkages Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan: Public Access Inventory and Linkages July 2010 WEST MICHIGAN SHORELINE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (WMSRDC) The WMSRDC is a regional council of governments representing 120 local governments in the West Michigan counties of Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana. The mission of WMSRDC is to promote and foster regional development in West Michigan… through cooperation amongst local governments. James Rynberg, Chairperson Robert Genson, Vice-Chairperson James Maike, Secretary Sandeep Dey, Executive Director Project Staff: Erin Kuhn, Program Manager Kathy Evans, Program Manager Stephen Carlson, Associate Planner Financial assistance for this project was provided, in part, by the Michigan Coastal Management Program, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan: Public Access Inventory and Linkages Table of Contents Chapter I: Introduction & Plan Overview .................................................................................1 Introduction and Synopsis of the Plan ............................................................................................. 1 Purpose for the Planning Process ..................................................................................................... 1 Definition of Blueways, Greenways, and Green Infrastructure ....................................................... 3 Chapter II: Muskegon County Growth Trends and Environmental Framework .................4 General Description of Muskegon County ...................................................................................... 4 Demographic and Economic Analysis of the County ...................................................................... 5 Environmental Review and History of Muskegon County .............................................................. 8 Chapter III: Muskegon County Blueways Inventory ..............................................................10 Introduction of Blueways in Muskegon County ............................................................................ 10 Detailed Blueways Inventory ......................................................................................................... 12 Chapter IV: Muskegon County Greenways Inventory ...........................................................35 Introduction of Greenways in Muskegon County .......................................................................... 35 Detailed Greenways Inventory ...................................................................................................... 37 Chapter V: Muskegon County Green Infrastructure .............................................................76 Green Infrastructure Overview ...................................................................................................... 76 Muskegon County Green Infrastructure Goals .............................................................................. 76 Muskegon County Green Infrastructure Inventory ........................................................................ 77 Muskegon County Green Infrastructure Overview Map ............................................................... 79 Chapter VI: Linking Blueways and Greenways in Muskegon County .................................80 Linkages Overview ........................................................................................................................ 80 Identification of Potential Linkages ............................................................................................... 80 Muskegon County Blueway and Greenway Linkage .................................................................... 81 Chapter VII: Public Involvement and Recommendations ......................................................82 Public Input Process ...........................................................................................................82 Recommendations: Goals and Opportunities....................................................................83 Tools for Implementation ..................................................................................................86 Chapter VIII: Conclusion ..........................................................................................................96 Appendix: Muskegon County Green Infrastructure Inventory .............................................97 Tables: 1. Population by Sex and Race ..........................................................................................5 2. Population Forecast 2010 to 2035..................................................................................6 3. Employment 1998 to 2008 .............................................................................................7 4. Employment by Sector 2001 & 2007.............................................................................7 5. Employment Projections ................................................................................................8 6. Lakes of Muskegon County .........................................................................................10 7. Muskegon County Greenways Summary ....................................................................35 8. Recreation Plan Information ........................................................................................36 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION & PLAN OVERVIEW Introduction and Synopsis of the Plan The Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan: Public Access Inventory and Linkages was funded through a Michigan Coastal Zone Management grant. The premise of the plan is that the preservation and protection of blueways and greenways should be planned for regionally and implemented locally. The plan provides a detailed inventory of public access to both blueways and greenways within Muskegon County. The document also builds upon previous work conducted within the region and proposes linkage corridors to protect and preserve public access to the county’s abundant natural resources. Finally, the plan outlines recommendations and tools for local government decision makers to utilize when attempting to implement the findings detailed in this plan. This plan also includes a companion document entitled Muskegon County Green Infrastructure Inventory. It is a separate planning initiative funded by the Lake Michigan Watershed Academy which was undertaken alongside the Blueways and Greenways Plan. While the Blueways and Greenways Plan is focused on recreation and public access to natural resources, the Green Infrastructure Inventory is focused on the ecological services provided by natural features beyond recreation. It is hoped that the partnership between the two projects will help illustrate the importance of natural resources; not only for recreation, but also for long-term health and prosperity in Muskegon County. The Green Infrastructure Inventory is summarized in Chapter 5, and included in its entirety as an appendix to this plan. Purpose for the Planning Process In 2005, community leaders in Muskegon Principles of Smart Growth County completed the Muskegon Area-wide Plan (MAP). The MAP represented • Create a range of housing opportunities and approximately five years of planning and choices cooperation which • Create walkable neighborhoods included over 1,000 • Encourage community and stakeholder participants in the collaboration process. The mission of • Foster distinctive, attractive places with a the Muskegon Area- strong sense of place wide Plan was to involve citizens in the • Make development decisions predictable, development of a shared vision for the future fair, and cost effective of Muskegon County. The document serves as • Mix land uses a community vision with nearly all 27 local • Preserve open space, farmland, natural units of government in the county not only beauty and critical environmental areas participating in the development of the plan, • Provide a variety of transportation choices but also passing formal resolutions to follow • Strengthen and direct development towards the vision. Participants in the development of existing communities • Take advantage of compact building design the MAP embraced the Smart Growth Principles and have worked hard to (Source: Smart Growth Network) incorporate each of the ten principles into the Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan | 1 Muskegon area. The plan even outlines a Smart Growth development scenario for local communities and leaders to follow. The MAP identified five major vision areas including Land Use & Growth; Natural Resources, Open Space, & Environment; Economy & Jobs; Infrastructure; and Quality of Life. The Muskegon County Blueways and Greenways Plan is a direct result of the Natural Resources, Open Space, & Environment Vision. This vision is defined as follows: Protect and preserve natural resources and continually improve the quality of air, water, and land resources found in Muskegon County. The development of a Green Infrastructure (Blueways & Greenways) Plan was identified as a goal under this vision. In accordance with the MAP goal, the intent of this document is to create a county-wide plan which can be coordinated and implemented locally. Community leaders in Muskegon County have also participated in the development of the “Natural Connections, a Vision of Green Infrastructure in West Michigan” spearheaded by the West Michigan Strategic Alliance in 2004. The purpose of
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