Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance

Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance
Name	Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance
Formation	1998
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Lansing, Michigan
Region served	Michigan

Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy and technical assistance organization focused on trails, greenways, and active transportation within Michigan. It provides planning, funding guidance, and policy support to local governments, regional authorities, and nonprofit partners including Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, National Park Service, National Recreation and Park Association, American Trails, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The organization engages with federal programs such as the Transportation Alternatives Program, Recreational Trails Program, and agencies including the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Michigan Department of Transportation.

History

Founded in the late 1990s during a national expansion of trail advocacy that included groups like Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and initiatives such as the Rails-to-Trails movement, the Alliance emerged alongside statewide efforts exemplified by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Early work connected with regional entities like the Great Lakes Commission, North Country Trail Association, and the Iron Belle Trail planning process. The Alliance built relationships with municipal partners including City of Detroit, City of Grand Rapids, and City of Lansing while coordinating with county agencies such as Wayne County, Oakland County, and Macomb County.

Mission and Programs

The stated mission centers on promoting active transportation and connecting communities via greenways, aligning with national standards from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and model guidelines from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention active living recommendations. Programs include technical assistance on corridor planning used by jurisdictions like Washtenaw County, Kalamazoo County, and Berrien County; grant-writing support tied to Community Development Block Grant and Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements programs; and training workshops referencing best practices from National Association of City Transportation Officials and Project for Public Spaces. Educational outreach partners include Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Western Michigan University.

Trails and Projects

Project work spans multiuse corridors that intersect major Michigan destinations such as Detroit Riverwalk, Kalamazoo River Valley Trail, Huron Valley, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and connections to the North Country National Scenic Trail. The Alliance has supported corridor development for routes tied to historic corridors like the Grand Trunk Western Railroad corridors and conversions akin to the Paul Bunyan Trail and Kal-Haven Trail. Projects link parks such as Belle Isle Park, Millennium Park (Grand Rapids), and Mackinac Island access points to regional trail networks and trailheads near Sleeping Bear Dunes and Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

Partnerships and Funding

Partnership networks include state agencies like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, foundation partners similar to The Kresge Foundation and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and federal funders including the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and Federal Highway Administration. Collaborative funding approaches mirror models used by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's national partners, leveraging grants from Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Transportation Alternatives Program, and philanthropic sources such as Land Trust Alliance-affiliated foundations. Local municipal partnerships have involved City of Ann Arbor, City of Traverse City, and regional planning agencies like Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

Advocacy and Policy

Advocacy work engages state legislative bodies including the Michigan Legislature and federal representatives, coordinating with national coalitions like the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and League of American Bicyclists. Policy initiatives align with funding frameworks from the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act and regulatory guidance from the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices considerations. The Alliance has participated in statewide planning exercises alongside the Michigan Trails Advisory Council and contributed to bicycle and pedestrian master plans used by jurisdictions such as City of Marquette.

Organization and Governance

Governance typically includes a volunteer board drawing expertise from civic leaders in communities including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, and Sault Ste. Marie, and staff with backgrounds in landscape architecture, transportation planning, and nonprofit management from institutions like Michigan State University and University of Michigan. Organizational practices mirror nonprofit standards endorsed by Council on Foundations and financial oversight models recommended by the National Council of Nonprofits. The Alliance coordinates volunteers, interns, and AmeriCorps members in collaboration with programs like AmeriCorps.

Impact and Recognition

Outcomes attributed to the Alliance include expanded trail mileage connecting urban centers such as Detroit and Grand Rapids, increased recreational access to sites like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and strengthened active transportation networks consistent with goals from Healthy People initiatives and county-level master plans. Recognition has come from statewide awards similar to those from the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association and citations in planning documents produced by entities like the Michigan Department of Transportation and academic research from University of Michigan and Michigan State University. The Alliance’s collaborative model has been cited in case studies alongside projects like the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and Kalamazoo River Valley Trail development.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Michigan Category:Trails in Michigan