By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has a plan to not only connect trail users directly to downtown Lake Orion, but to potentially transport regional users cycling and hiking from Belle Isle State Park in Detroit to Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula.
With iconic sharrows, fences and new pathways, the .98 mile Paint Creek Trail extension could become a reality as soon as spring 2016.
Hinging on a $200,000 grant from the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP), the plan would extend the Paint Creek Trail through downtown Lake Orion and out to Lapeer. The DDA would match with $50,000.
Currently the trail spits out into the Atwater Commons condominiums off of Atwater St. with minimal to no signage affirming surrounding amenities.
While the seasoned trail user will know downtown Lake Orion is only a mere hop away, first-timers might just turn around and head home, DDA Director Suzanne Perrault said.
‘I think it’s going to have a tremendous impact on our downtown,? she said. ‘Just being able to visually see that the trail goes further will help people discover our downtown shops and restaurants.?
Not to mention the secondary component’that the trail extension could potentially connect to the future Iron Belle Trail.
Apart of the statewide trail system, the Iron Belle Trail has been proposed to incorporate both the Paint Creek and Polly Ann Trail, which both the village and township is working to connect.
The DDA is applying to the TAP grant in two weeks, and will be notified in July if the partnership in control of the grant? the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)’approves the project.
Lake Orion’s piece
For over a year Perrault’s committee has been analyzing community input to determine the safest and most accessible path to connect the trailhead at Atwater Commons to the downtown.
With input from both MDOT and SEMCOG, along with input from village and township parks and recreation committees, trail users and the community, the DDA is proud to present the possible route.
From Atwater Commons trail users will cross Atwater at a midway point through a new traffic light system. Trail users will activate the yellow flashing lights with a button in order to safely cross Atwater.
From there, the trail will cut around the eastern side of the Lake Orion Lumber Co. with a ten-foot wide path, once an easement is required, and will hook up with an already existing 8 foot wide path at Meek’s Park.
On the north side of the bridge construction crews will create a respite area, containing benches, landscaping, a horse tie-up and a bike fix-it station and a kiosk, paid for separately, to list upcoming events and business information.
Over the wooden bridge, and to Anderson St., the trail will drop onto the road where sharrows will direct trail flow.
A sharrow, or shared lane bicycle marking, is a pavement marking along the right side of the lane to remind motorists that bicyclists are permitted to use the lane.
Cyclists will continue along Anderson St., and cross over Flint St., Shadbolt, Jackson and Church St., and hook a left at Elizabeth St. Along with the sharrows patrons can utilize existing sidewalks along both Anderson and Elizabeth streets.
Once on Elizabeth, cyclists and trail users will follow sharrows up until the Kroger parking lot, where the DDA’s trail extension project will end.
Until a further connection is built, cyclers can hop onto sidewalks and continue north along Lapeer Rd., over the bridge at Indian Lake Rd., and up until the Hills of Oxford complex.
‘The future idea is to do something with the Lapeer and Indianwood intersection to get people to the Polly Ann Trail trailhead off of Indianwood,? Perrault said. ?
Orion Township is also applying for a grant of their own to connect the Paint Creek to the Polly Ann on W. Clarkston Rd. Currently the trail ends at Pine Tree Rd., and if the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant is approved for $300,000, the plan is to extend the trail from Pine Tree to where the Polly Ann intersects Clarkston Rd. The trail extension would also give patrons access to Camp Agawam.
While the Iron Belle Trail is still years out, it is something that future Lake Orion residents can look forward to.
‘There could be a lot of long term positive benefits from that as well, and if we’re on it, or near it, that could bring a lot of regional tourism to us too,? Perrault said.?
The DDA has also been pursuing another idea to tie into the new trail connection, if the grant is proved in July: a complete set of wayfinding signage that would direct trail users to every part of downtown Lake Orion.
They would have to pay this project out of pocket, and could amount to anything near $100,000, but Perrault is excited for what it could mean to the community.
The plan would include an informational kiosk at the trailhead adjacent to Atwater Commons, a business directory, and multiple signs throughout the community branding Lake Orion with the recently created Dragon logo.