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The Macomb Daily
New Walking Path to Open Saturday
Clinton Township's 'Golden Triangle' connects trails, surrounds parks.
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Mitch Hotts
Macomb Daily Staff Writer |
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Clinton Township’s new walking path near the Civic Center isn’t finished, but area residents are using it for leisurely strolls and bicycle rides.
“I’ve seen people out there pushing baby buggies, roller-blading and just plain walking,” said Clinton Township Supervisor Robert Cannon.
The 1.7-mile path — dubbed the “Golden Triangle” because it links to other trails and forms a triangle around nearby parks — will be formally dedicated at a public ceremony Saturday.
Work crews have been busy for the past few months carving out the 10-foot-wide paved path from the Clinton-Macomb Public Library down Canal to Clinton River Road. Funding for the $500,000 trail came from various grants and con tributions.
The trail connects to a 1.3-mile woodchip walking path that links to the Clinton-Kalamazoo Park with Budd Park.
Together, the paths form a 3-mile triangle from Budd Park to the Civic Center along Romeo Plank Road, to the Clinton-Kalamazoo Park along Canal, and back to Budd Park along Clinton River Road.
Additional plans call for construction of trails to the Rose Gardens property at Clinton River Road and Cass Avenue, as well as the Metropolitan Parkway trail to the south.
Clinton Township Planning Director Carlo Santia said the path’s creation will help enhance the quality of life for local residents.
“It provides some recreation that everyone can enjoy and doesn’t take a whole lot of effort,” Santia said. “Instead of trying to jog or walk along a busy road, we now have a path that takes you through some quiet areas of our community.”
Don Green, a longtime community volunteer, was a catalyst for the path, according to township officials. In addition to pushing for the trail’s creation, he also was instrumental in urging U.S. Rep. Sander Levin to secure a grant as part of the financing.
“My sweet wife was out here on her bike and she came home and said to me ‘You have to see all the people out there already,’” he said. “We believe this path will make this community an even better place to live.”
Financing came from the federal grant along with a Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan grant and funds donated by the township’s Building Authority and the library.
The path will be maintained by the Public Works Department. Officials said future plans call for the installation of park benches and tree plantings.
At the dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. on Sept. 15, township officials and attendees will take an inaugural walk down the path. The first 50 children will receive free bicycle safety helmets.
The path is open for dog walking but residents are urged to clean up after their pets. Garbage receptacles will be installed in coming weeks.
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