There is renewed life in the creation of the Hamtramck Trail, which
will eventually connect the Dequindre Cut to downtown Hamtramck,
Veteran's Memorial Park and up Gallagher beyond the city limits.
The
non-profit Preserve Our Parks received $96,000 from the Community
Foundation for Southeast Michigan's Greenways Initiative back in 2006
to spearhead the development of bike and pedestrian amenities in
Hamtramck. The funds were used to plan a trail network and develop
construction drawings. The group lost a bit of steam in the last couple
of years, but now, new members are working with existing ones to
reinvigorate efforts and raise money for construction.
As
planned, construction costs are estimated at $760,000, including
greening and beautification in the trail's vicinity. Chris Cornwell,
who sits on POP's greenways committee, says that building just the bare
bones trail would run about $400,000 -- and the Michigan Department of
Transportation has already committed to contributing $200,000 to
$300,000. The organization is looking into other funding sources to
fill in the remaining gap.
Cornwell says that the route of the
northern end of the trail will be determined by efforts to develop a
trail system in Highland Park and other portions of north and northwest
Detroit.
To keep up with the latest news about the Hamtramck Trail, visit
HamtramckTrails.com.
Source: Chris Cornwell, Preserve Our Parks
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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