Last month’s Regional Trails Summit brought together a great group of partners to discuss trail opportunities in Southeast Michigan. Hosted at SEMCOG in partnership with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance (MTGA), this event supported the work of Michigan Trails Southeast (MTSE) – a regional initiative to connect more people with trails, connect gaps in the regional trail network, and connect trail advocates and developers with funding and capacity-building resources.
Participants left the meeting with a regional perspective on our trail network, along with some cool new MTSE gear that was generously sponsored by the Michigan Association of Health Plans. We’re always happy to promote the value of connecting health and recreation opportunities, and we’re excited to continue spreading the word about this initiative. For more information about what was discussed, here are my top five lessons learned from the Southeast Michigan Regional Trails Summit:
1. Common Theme:
- Place = People. This emerged as a common theme from the Southeast Michigan Regional Trail Summit’s opening speakers, as they shared about the value and impact of trails in the region. SEMCOG Executive Director Amy O’Leary highlighted the ways that trails support regional placemaking and economic development, improving quality of life. “As we continue to see more flexible working environments, more people can choose to live wherever they want. We want to be sure that our region’s communities have the amenities that people want to see close to home, and trails are often at the top of that list.”
Tim Novak introduced himself as the newly appointed State Trails Coordinator with MDNR and discussed how the increased trail use since the pandemic has spurred the development of new trail connections and accessibility improvements. Mark Wallace, President and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, emphasized the connection between people and place in his keynote presentation. “Trails can change how people come together,” he shared while covering the transformative story of the Detroit Riverwalk. “Their innovative partnerships, engaging programs, and exciting plans are all driven by the goal that our people and places are worth connecting.”
2. Signs of Encouragement:
- We’ve made major accomplishments! A group activity to identify and prioritize trail opportunities showed just how much progress our communities have made in planning and developing new trail connections. We reviewed regional maps to see how our trails connect now, and we discussed future project opportunities to watch as they move forward. For anyone unable to participate at the meeting and those wishing to stay in touch about a trail project, the MTSE Progress and Priority Tracker is an online form to share the same updates discussed in the group activity. These responses are collected and tracked by SEMCOG to coordinate regional planning and support funding opportunities.
- We have major opportunities! The meeting included a panel discussion among 5 speakers, who collectively represented more than 20 funding programs that support trails (with more information available through SEMCOG, MDOT, MDNR, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan). The discussion also touched on successful private fundraising efforts (exemplified by Washtenaw County’s Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative) and federal appropriations for Community Projects (with a recent success for Detroit’s Joe Louis Greenway from Senator Stabenow’s office). However, all speakers agreed that the region’s needs outweigh the available resources to support them, so opportunities can be highly competitive.
3. Secrets to Success for Grant Proposals:
- Know your audience. All panelists emphasized the value of starting early conversations with funding agencies to ensure the project’s alignment with their program and avoid potential hurdles.
- Develop partnerships. Engage your community and leverage support with partnerships. Additional voices at the table can make a stronger case and bring additional investment opportunities.
- Connect the dots. When it comes to trails, connecting local assets, core services, and destinations with a regional network helps expand a project’s accessibility and impact.
4. Underutilized Opportunities for Trail Funding Programs:
- Green + Blue. A project’s benefits increase when land-based trails connect with and enhance access to water trails and waterfronts.
- Flood Control. Using green infrastructure to manage transportation-related flooding is an eligible use for Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which can also improve streetscaping.
- Universal Access. Providing universal access that goes above and beyond the requirements of ADA is a high priority for many DNR programs.
- Traffic Safety. Resolving traffic safety priorities at intersections and other key locations is an important factor in regional funding decisions.
5. Things That Make an Application Stand Out to Funders:
- How it fits with their program. How does the project meet the overall goals that this program is designed to support?
- Significant community engagement. Is the project supported by the people it is intended to serve? How is that demonstrated?
- Reasonable estimates. Do the proposed timelines reflect the project’s needs – including processes like land acquisition or environmental review? Is the budget realistic?
- How will it be used? What is the level of demand for the project? What type of use is it expected to generate?
- Who will use it? What communities will this support? Does it increase access where it doesn’t currently exist or support more equitable opportunities for underserved areas?
I hope these conversations helped spark a new idea or connection for your community’s trails! If you’re interested in more information on MTSE or want to stay in the loop on next steps, please feel free to be in touch with me, or Andrea LaFontaine – Executive Director of MTGA.
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