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July 5, 2016
Contact: Hector Valdez, 231-869-2051
William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail State Park ribbon-cutting ceremonies and celebration set for July 18
The  Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today that two ribbon-cutting ceremonies will take place Monday, July 18, to mark and celebrate the completion of the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail improvement project.
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 22-mile trail, located in west Michigan, winds through rural and wooded terrain and through the communities of Hart, Mears, Shelby, New Era, Rothbury and Montague. A number of scenic overlooks and picnic areas are located along the route.
The DNR, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation, rebuilt the trail from Hart to Montague. Enhancements included trail reconstruction and safety improvements; repairs to bridges, overlook decks, culverts, signage and road crossings, and grading and drainage improvements to ensure the longevity of the rail-trail improvements. Construction began in spring 2015.
The ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be held at 9 a.m., followed by festivities including a bicycle ride, cake and ice cream, live music and other fun community events.
Here is a schedule highlighting the day’s events:
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9 a.m. - Ribbon cuttings and bike rides: Participants are asked to meet at the Montague Hart Commons area or the new trail pavilion behind Montague Foods on Spring Street East to attend one of two trail ribbon cuttings and then participate in an optional bike ride to the trail reopening celebration at Country Dairy pavilion.
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10:30 a.m. - Trail reopening celebration: Meet at the Country Dairy pavilion, 3476 S. 80th Ave., New Era.
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5 p.m. - Music by Dale and Gail: Meet at Dale & Gail’s Music & Art Gallery in downtown Hart.
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7 p.m. - Recognition of Field family and donors and welcome to the Michigander Bicycle Tour: Meet at the Hart Commons in downtown Hart.
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7:45 p.m. - Music by Dede and the Dreamers: Meet at the Hart Commons in downtown Hart.
- 9:30 p.m. - Conclusion.
Funding for improvements to the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail was provided by the state of Michigan's General Fund, the federal Transportation Alternatives Program through the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Recreation Trails Program, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Park Endowment Fund and local community contributions.
Please RSVP to Hector Valdez at valdezh@michigan.gov by Monday, July 11. For more information, contact Valdez at 231-869-2051.
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.
Learn more about how the Recreation Passport gains you access to Michigan state parks and more at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
/Editors' note: An accompanying invitation and photo are available below for download. Suggested captions follows.
HM_Trail: The William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail is the first “Rails to Trails” park in the state. The 22-mile trail, located in west Michigan, winds through rural and wooded terrain and through the communities of Hart, Mears, Shelby, New Era, Rothbury and Montague./
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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