By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
Quadrant by quadrant, safety paths are connecting Orion Township’s different sections together.
According to the newest Recreation Master Park Plan survey, filling in the gaps between existing paths is safety path users? first priority.
The next goal is to link up to trails traversing into neighboring communities.
The safety path advisory committee requested the approval of the final engineering design and acquirement of easements for new paths on Indianwood Rd. and Clarkston Rd. at the township board meeting Tuesday night, which was approved.
Indianwood Phase Three path will connect the north side of Indianwood Rd. from Paint Creek Elementary to Jackson Oaks St. The board also approved Indianwood Phase Four, connecting paths on Indianwood from Joslyn to Fernhurst.
Approved paths for Clarkston Rd. Phase Two will connect the north side of Clarkston Rd. from Baldwin to the west township boundary line near Heather Lakes Estate at the beginning of Independence Township.
Building and maintenance crews finished up Indianwood Rd. Phase Two this summer, from the new foot bridge east to Paint Creek Elementary. Currently crews are constructing a path on Maybee Rd. to Capaldi Circle west into Independence Township, with plans to pave it this week.
‘Our goal is to connect Orion to Independence Township. After this the only remaining piece will be over the swamp at Rohr and Maybee,? Building and Grounds Operation Director Jeff Stout said.
The safety path committee is researching possible grants for this last connection, which will require a boardwalk over the swamp’highly expensive.
This summer was also a big season for updating and maintaining existing paths.
Summer maintenance crews updated three-fourths of township paths with new Americans Disability (ADA) certified ramps. Tree roots were removed, cracks repaired and numerous sections of sidewalk were replaced.
Crews also improved pathways on Maybee Rd., Waldon, Silverbell, M24, and Scripps from M24 to Lake Orion High School. A new path was also built from the west side of Joslyn near Canterbury Village to Civic Center hall allowing foot and bike traffic to cross Joslyn to reach sports courts and Orion Township hall.
‘Now we have the maintenance machine started our intention is to take it a quadrant at a time so that everyone will see improvements year by year,? Stout said.
Although the township building crew tries to keep easements in the road right of way, temporary and permanent easements may be required from property owners for construction.
These situations can occur if the township runs into elevation or drainage problems, or if the right of way is too narrow for path construction. Residents will be notified far in advance if an easement onto their private property would enhance the path, and they will have the option to negotiate.
Apart from summer path maintenance, Stout also reminds the community that the 7.1 miles of sidewalk from Joslyn to Waldon to Baldwin to Clarkston will be open again this winter to get outside and take a stroll.