Chicago City is extending its reach to the shores of Lake Michigan with a fresh span of nature trail to New Buffalo, Michigan. The Marquette Greenway, a pedestrian and cycling path, is now seeing progress on its Michigan side with a groundbreaking ceremony set for April 3, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The trail has already seen portions completed in Chicago and Indiana, and now Michigan is catching up. Stretching approximately 60 miles once finished, the greenway aims to connect Chicagoans and visitors alike to the picturesque towns, beaches, and the idyllic Indiana Dunes National Park lining the southern tip of Lake Michigan. At year's end 2023, less than half of the trail was complete but federal and state funding in place for the rest signals that the ribbon of path is relentless in its journey to completion. Despite delays, Michiganders and Hoosiers alike are watching with anticipation as their states are set to be stitched tighter CBS News reports.
On the environmental and economic front, project planners have not shied away from heralding the greenway as a transformative endeavor for the communities it traverses. "I really think this trail is going to be transformational for the region," Marcy Hamilton of the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission told the Chicago Tribune. Alongside the clear health benefits, the project is expected to enhance connections between communities, acting as a potential unifying force, as described by Diane Pyshos, a seasoned volunteer with Friends of Berrien County Trails.
The scenic trail doesn't just offer an avenue for challenging steel-limbed cyclists to plot their courses but opens the door for those with less experience to navigate safely from point A to B. Along its path, it grants nearly 200,000 locals enhanced access to outdoor activities, all within a mile and a half from their residences. Construction in Michigan kicks off with a 10-foot wide paved section boasting amenities like bike repair stations. However, even with such grand plans underway, securing the necessary space for this green corridor posed its own set of hurdles, requiring planners to negotiate for easements and navigate through already-developed areas.
Funding for the Michigan slice of greenway amounts to nearly $7 million, a pie contributed to by a variety of sources including federal and state grants, local municipalities, private donations, and the Michigan Department of Transportation—which provided a critical $1.1 million boost when bids came over budget. The entire project carries a price tag of $40 million, aiming for the finish line in 2027, as per CBS News.
