Work continues on non-motorized trail
“I’m really excited for next summer. We’re going to get an … influx (of people),” said Nicole Sanderson, Gladstone Parks and Recreation Director.
Construction of the Little Bay de Noc Trail is about a week ahead of schedule despite multiple setbacks early in the project. Permit applications were delayed due to issues with the project’s first engineer, and once ground was broken, workers discovered the site was different than anticipated.
“They ran into some problems. There was a lot of top soil that needed to be removed — more than what they had thought,” said Sanderson.
Mother Nature also hindered work during the spring and summer when the area was hit with heavy and seemingly constant rains. The extra water made culvert work extremely difficult along the shoreline.
However, the project went on, and construction crews brought in two additional bulldozers to keep construction ahead of schedule. The construction caused the left, northbound lane of US-2 to be closed along the shoreline, but the lane is expected to reopen when the path is completed. Without any further delays, the path should be paved by Nov. 14.
While people will be able to use the trail as soon as the paving is completed, the Little Bay de Noc Trail won’t be fully complete until a fishing and observation platform is installed on the trail. Pilons for the platform have already been put in place, but the platform itself will be installed by Dec. 15.
With winter quickly approaching, it’s likely that only the bravest recreationists will be hitting the trail in December, but plans are already underway to maximize the use of the the trail in the spring and summer of 2018.
The city has actively been working with Rick Elrod of MISH Water Sports to establish a blue water trail in the bay along the path. These trails are popular across the state and allow kayakers and canoers to travel in safe, known areas. Sanderson noted that she has kayaked along the proposed water trail herself, and while the road may be loud, the water near the path is calm, clear, and quiet.
To maximize both the use of both the non-motorized path and the water trail, the city is partnering with Elrod to bring kayak rentals to the trail. The city already participates in the Yellow Bike rental program, which allows residents and visitors to the city the opportunity to borrow bicycles.
“In the spring you’ll be able to get a kayak or a bike at the Gladstone beach and either kayak or bike to the Terrace and switch out and kayak or bike back,” said Sanderson.
Businesses are also planning to get involved and help make the city a destination for bikers, kayakers, walkers, and anglers using the Little Bay de Noc Trail and blue water trail. Plans are in the works for recreationists to be able to call a number and have a picnic lunch delivered to the Gladstone beach.
The city is also planning to make the beach itself more inviting for people who are coming off the trail or who are just soaking up the sun. Tiki huts have been ordered for the beach, and Sanderson hopes that these huts will help make the beach an ideal location for people to spend the day.
Overall, Sanderson hopes the trail, beach improvements, and the championship level disc golf course being installed at the John and Melissa Besse Sports Park will make Gladstone a destination.
“Hopefully people will make it a place to come to. They’ll say, let’s go there because they have cool (things to do),” said Sanderson.