Although she has been involved with the Paint Creek Trailways since 1997, Kristen Myers might be a new face to some as she takes over as the Paint Creek Trailways Coordinator.
Myers replaced her former boss Bill Stark, who was the former trailways coordinator and for whom she worked as an administrative assistant since 2000. Myers first got involved with the trailways nearly 10 years ago when she was appointed as a citizen representative from Rochester Hills.
Myers said her coming to replace Stark was “kind of a fluke.”
“He went on vacation and I offered to fill in,” she said. “Up until May 21st I worked here part-time. (Stark and I) tried to work a day or two a week together, but we kind of did the same job.”
Myers is a Rochester Hills native, and still lives there with her husband Michael, a Rochester Hills fireman and paramedic. The couple have two children; 8 and 1/2-year-old Addie and 5-year-old Brianna.
Myers has a degree in political science from Oakland University, and has also served on the planning commission for Rochester Hills.
“(My husband and I) both fell for that public service side of life,” she said.
Asked to describe her job as coordinator, Myers said “The closest description would be a trail manager. I report to the commission and take direction from them…I also set the agenda…take care of financial matters.”
Myers said a big portion of her job is public relations.
“I handle speaking engagements…a lot of people know (the trail) is here, but don’t know what they can do,” she said. “We also have a new brochure…We have a really great detailed map.”
Myers also oversees the Paint Creek Trail Bike Patrol, which exists to remind trail users of the rules, and to assist with break downs.
“He’ll be carrying a defibrillator, which is something really new,” Myers said. “He’s a college student…it’s been a very effective program. He’s there to keep everyone in check, and he patrols from Memorial Day through Oct. 1, 40 hours a week; and after Oct. 1 on weekends.”
Myers’s office also handles trail inspections, contacting the proper departments when work needs to be done.
“That’s my favorite part, sitting out on the trail and talking to trail users…we had our National Trail Days event (June 7) and it was such a pleasure to have people say to you ‘We love this,'” she said.
A major part of Myer’s workload currently is the reworking of the trail master plan.
“It’s pretty intensive,” she said. “There really isn’t anything new yet, we haven’t gotten to the meat of it. We’re now updating the basic information.
“A big part of it will be connecting with other trails…We’re really going to expand on that…to connect to the Polly Ann Trail to the north is one of our goals,” said Myers.
The commission was asked to approve the community description and timeline for the master plan on June 17, and will be approving other portions through November.
“We want it in place by December,” Myers said. “I hope we get some people that are interested.”
Myers said Stark, who was coordinator for six years and worked previously for the Department of Natural Resources, will still be around to help with the trail.
“He’s not the kind of guy that would just leave,” she said. “He’s an Orion Township resident…but he wanted to go fishing. He was a great boss.”
Myers said the trail was one of 23 groups approved for a Natural Resources Trust Fund, which will be use for picnic tables along the trail, as well as an erosion control/observation area at Foley Pond in Orion.
“That’s part of our job too is grant writing, and now it will be grant management,” she said. “We also really need to get a Friends of the Paint Creek Trailways group going…there’s a lot of interest.”
In her limited free time, Myers said she and her family enjoys camping, and just bought their first RV.
“I do volunteer grant writing for different groups, and I like cooking and baking,” she said.
Anyone who would like to receive one of the new Paint Creek Trail brochures can send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to 4393 Collins Road, Rochester, MI, 48306, or call (248) 651-9260.
The Paint Creek Trailways Commission also has a website at www.paintcreektrail.org, with pictures, trail history and information.