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Dear Friend,
We are excited to share this brief progress update on your Blue Star Trail.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) have conditionally approved seven grants earmarked to help fund the construction of three Trail segments. The MDOT grants and the three Trail segments they support are independent of each other, but each segment could be built in 2027! To see a map of segments 1 & 2 in Saugatuck Township, Saugatuck City and Douglas (click here). For segment 3 in South Haven (click here).
Over the years, Friends of the Blue Star Trail (Friends) has provided more than $440,000 to support development of Trail design plans and to fund other engineering fees. A key component of the MDOT applications was the conceptual design plan for each Trail segment. The MDOT and the MDNR receive many grant applications each year, but only a limited number of them are selected due to funding constraints. Receiving these approvals is indicative of the importance and worthiness the grant administrators place on connecting our lakeshore communities with a trail. The applicant and engineering firm for each segment are working closely with MDOT to fulfill the conditions of the grants. When the grants are approved, the applicants and communities will be able to receive over $5.4 million to help fund the cost to build these Trail segments.
Your Friends Board continues to work closely with our local community leaders and the Road Commissions of Allegan County and Van Buren County to make the Blue Star Trail become a reality. We are very appreciative of the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by the leaders of Saugatuck Township, City of Saugatuck, City of the Village of Douglas, South Haven, South Haven Charter Township, and the Road Commissions as we collaborate on this effort to build these segments.
Lastly, none of this would be possible without our supporters…THANK YOU!
Clark Carmichael
President, Friends of the Blue Star Trail
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