This article is part of Inside Our Outdoors, a series about Southeast Michigan's connected parks, greenways, and trails and how they affect residents' quality of life. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.
As local studies have identified billions of dollars in economic benefits from the region's parks and trails, area leaders have increasingly come together to acknowledge and better leverage those benefits.
Biking and walking advocates are thrilled about a new Washtenaw County special revenue fund that will support the long-term maintenance of non-motorized trails.
Melting snow doesn't necessarily mean early spring is a good time to go mountain biking. And trails like the DTE Energy Foundation Trail in Chelsea are taking steps to protect themselves from damage related to the spring thaw.
Numerous factors have prompted huge increases in park usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of them trace back to residents seeking mental stability during unprecedented chaos and uncertainty.
Macomb and St. Clair County have long been hotspots for migrating birds. Now officials in each county are working together to establish a route to help birdwatchers connect with their feathered friends.
Stakeholders have adopted a more regional approach, thinking in terms of projects that build trail connections not just within a single county but across Southeast Michigan.
Wayne County's Lower Rouge Greenway is growing and improving. Here's what to expect next from the regional trail.
The new connection brings the Paint Creek Trail together with the Polly Ann Trail, a 14.2-mile trailway that passes through Orion Township, Oxford Township, Oxford, Addison Township, and Leonard.
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