Northville trail will connect city to township

Thursday, November 4, 2010 | Source: Metromode

When walkers, runners, and bikers explore a new trail planned for the Northville area, they might just learn a thing or two at the same time.

After two years of planning, Northville Township, the city of Northville, and Wayne County have a plan and funding for the Northville Bennett Arboretum Trailway, a non-motorized trail that will connect the city and township. The path will begin at Verona Lane and Sheldon Road, where the current Northville Township pathway system ends, continue along Sheldon through the Bennett Arboretum, cross into the city, and end near where Sheldon intersects with Seven Mile Road.

Jill Rickard, Northville Township staff engineer and project point person, points out that not only will the trail connect the city to the township, it also provides access to the county and township park and bike system, including the Rouge River and Hines Drive, a popular cycling route. "It does provide some good interaction between the park systems," she says. "The township and city have been trying to connect for years."

The project, funded partially by parks millage funds and a recently-awarded $450,000 Rouge Program Office Grant, will include an elevated boardwalk, block retaining walls with native plantings, and a bridge over Johnson Creek that will allow for accessing educational information about the creek. The boardwalk will provide a viewing platform for a wetland that straddles the city and township lines.

Rickard says the path will also be a good way for visitors to learn about the surrounding areas, and about the green features planned, such as permeable pavement, the benefits of trees, and how native landscaping can prevent erosion. She expects that at least five informational kiosks will be displayed with such information. "This provides an excellent opportunity for an educational, instructional way of doing that," she says.

She hopes to put the project out to bid in February, begin construction in the spring, and finish by next fall.

Source: Jill Rickard, Northville Township staff engineer
Writer: Kristin Lukowski