Construction of a controversial proposal to extend of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT) failed to get support this week from the Cleveland Township Board.
However, a final decision is expected during the board’s September meeting.
The township hall sits immediately across from the site where TART Trails and the National Park Service propose to begin extension of the trail, referred to as “Segment 9” to Good Harbor Beach— a $15.4 million project.
Cleveland Township Supervisor Tim Stein guided the conversation about ‘Segment 9’ as the township has been receiving extensive electronic and verbal communication from residents on what future action from the township should look like.
“$15.5 million for 4-miles of trail is obscene and someone has to show fiscal responsibility ... I really object because I’m being here to be fiscal responsible. I can’t in good faith support 4.2-miles of trail that is going to have minimal usage,” Stein said.
SBDNL Superintendent Scott Tucker responded to the question of funding, “One of the pieces from the beginning of the Heritage Trail construction is that funding does not come out of the budget,” Tucker continued. “It’s not an either or piece of funding ... TART Trail is our fundraising partner for both public and private dollars through various sources.”
Tucker reiterated that the Park Service does value the townships opinion.
Dubbed ‘The Pathway to Good Harbor’ or ‘Segment 9’ of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, plans to extend from Bohemian Road (CR 669) to Good Harbor Trail (CR 651).
SBDNL along with fundraising partner TART Trails and construction partner MDOT have pushed the project from beginning this fall until at least spring 2025.
This 4.2-mile stretch has been in the crosshairs of residents, environmental- ists and neighborhood associations fighting SBDNL to keep the trail from ever breaking ground.
Cleveland Township will vote at their September meeting regarding their official opinion. But it is clear they are not thrilled.
The board reminisced on meetings of the past when the park hosted various informational meetings in 2018, along with discussing the controversial 2009 SBDNL environmental impact study.
Over the past year, outside firms have completed studies highlighting the potential devastating impact of creating a trail throughout the dune ecosystem. These studies were funded by local organizations including the Little Traverse Lake Association which is against the project.
Cleveland Township trustee Jan Nowak had questions regarding the number of people who actually use the trail.
According to the Friend of Sleeping Bear Dunes, the entire Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail saw nearly 75,000 visitors in 2023. The majority of those numbers come from high visitor areas along the 20-mile Heritage Trail system including the Dune Climb, Grand Haven, and Glen Arbor.
Nowak would like to see SBDNL focus their effort on constructing the trail down Bohemian Road, taking a right down Lake Michigan Drive next to Good Harbor Trail as the basis for Segment 9.
Township officials did ponder the idea of supporting the project if it went another route.
Cleveland Township Clerk Tracy Olsen believes that the township and SBDNL should have a conversation that has yet to happen when asked for her opinion.
“The money doesn’t make sense and the environmental impact. I don’t think we should be tearing the park up at all ... $15 million could fund Cleveland Township for the next millennium,” Cleveland Township trustee Angie Diotte said.
Cleveland Township is unsure what leverage they could use to have a significant impact on the decision of the project since SBDNL owns the land where the trail would go.
“Probably more (leverage) than you might imagine. At least I’m thinking in that direction,” Stein said.
