Improvements, closures set for William Field Memorial Hart Montague Trail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2015

Contact: Manny Valdez, 231-869-2051 or Leo Evans, 231-777-7282


Improvements, closures scheduled for William Field Memorial Hart Montague Trail State Park

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that segments of the William Field Memorial Hart Montague Trail will be closed starting this month due to construction. Improvements to the 22.6-mile trail in west Michigan will include widening, resurfacing and improving bridge structures. 

The trail will be closed in segments of approximately 6-8 miles, starting from the southern project limits and continuing north along the route. Trail segments not actively under construction will remain open to use. 

Construction will take place in three phases (shown on the map, attached and at right). Work on segment one will start in July; segment two is expected to start in mid-August, and segment three is expected to start in late September. The trail should be completed and fully reopened in November 2015. Stages two and three may be completed in reverse order, pending delivery of critical materials. 

Funding for improvements to the William Field Memorial Hart Montague Trail comes from the state of Michigan's General Fund, the Transportation Alternatives Program from the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Recreation Trails Program, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Park Endowment Fund and local community contributions. 

The William Field Memorial Hart Montague Trail State Park was developed in 1989 as one of the first “Rails to Trails” parks in the state. The trail winds through rural and wooded terrain and through the communities of Hart, Mears, Shelby, New Era, Rothbury and Montague. The trail’s success allowed Michigan to become a leader in trail development. Explore the state's extensive trails network at www.michigan.gov/dnrtrails.

Reconstruction of the William Field Memorial Hart Montague Trail will continue the trail’s legacy as a tourism and quality of life asset to the region.  

For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/hartmontague or contact Manny Valdez (231-869-2051 or valdezh@michigan.gov) or Leo Evans (231-777-7282 or EvansL3@michigan.gov).

Inside Michigan’s Great Outdoors subscribers are always the first to know about reservation opportunities, state park events and other outdoor happenings. Visit www.michigan.gov/dnr to subscribe now. 

A Recreation Passport grants vehicle access to any Michigan state park, boat launch, state forest campground or nonmotorized state trailhead parking. Residents can purchase the Passport for just $11 ($5 for motorcycles) at the time of Michigan license plate renewal through Secretary of State. Forgot to check “YES” during renewal? Residents and nonresidents can purchase a Recreation Passport window sticker during regular business hours at state parks. Learn more about how the Recreation Passport supports state parks, local outdoor recreation opportunities, historic and cultural sites at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.