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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 2, 2015
Contact: Paul Yauk, 517-284-6141 or Kriss Bennett, 248-634-9759
Huron Waterloo Loop to link southeast Michigan communities to Iron Belle Trail
 Trails – with their connection to the outdoors and healthy lifestyles – are on the rise in Michigan, and the Department of Natural Resources is supporting these efforts in partnership with many other organizations.
A local nonprofit advocacy group, The Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative, recently secured three separate $25,000 private donations from Chelsea Milling, Chelsea State Bank and the Peter and Patti Feeney Family. With the help of these donations, Huron Waterloo Pathways is actively working to create a unique, looped trail connection to Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail. The circular design of the trail ties the Border-2-Border Trail and the Lakelands State Trail into a single, integrated trail system. The resulting 44-mile trail, known as the “Loop,” will create a unique and highly attractive destination for regional events entirely off of roadways. The trail also will connect Chelsea, Dexter, Stockbridge, Pinckney, and the Waterloo and Pinckney recreation areas. Riders on this new loop will experience an excellent blend of scenery, including farmland, woods, rivers/streams and small towns.
“Over 50 percent of the state’s population will be within an hour's drive of the Loop, which makes this an important regional connection to the development and success of the Iron Belle Trail,” said Paul Yauk, DNR state trail coordinator. “The DNR is very pleased to be part of this partnership.”
The Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative will oversee the development and assist in management of the trail once it is complete. The donations will go toward developing the first phase of construction, a section from Chelsea to North Territorial Road, where it eventually will connect to the Lakelands Trail, which also is on the Iron Belle Trail walking route. For more information, visit www.hwpathways.org.
Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail – stretching from Belle Isle Park in Detroit to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula – features two distinct routes for hiking and bicycling that together will cover 2,000 scenic miles. This trail, portions of which are under development, builds on Michigan’s nationally recognized trails network and reputation as the country’s Trails State. Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail links existing trails and provides greater economic, transportation, social and health benefits for trail users and communities. It is made possible by federal, state and local units of government and many organizations across the state working together. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnrtrails.
/Editors, please note: Accompanying images are available below for download. Suggested captions follow.
HWPI Loop map: The planned 44-mile Huron Waterloo Loop trail – connecting Chelsea, Dexter, Stockbridge, Pinckney, and the Waterloo and Pinckney recreation areas – creates a unique, looped trail connection to Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail.
HW Loop on Iron Belle map: The Huron Waterloo Loop Trail is an important regional connection to the development and success of the Iron Belle Trail./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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