Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Recommended for State Grant to Develop Iron Belle – Paint Creek Trail Northern Trailhead

On Dec. 12th the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommended that Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Commission (OTPRC) be awarded a $228,400 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for improvements at the Township’s Paint Creek Junction Park.  The purpose of this grant project, titled “Iron Belle – Paint Creek Trail Northern Trailhead” is to provide a trailhead at Paint Creek Junction Park, adjacent to the Paint Creek Trail.  Since the Paint Creek Trail is an important link in the statewide Iron-Belle trail system, this project also supports that trail too!

Many residents may not know that each community that participates in the Paint Creek Trail is responsible for the improvement and maintenance of the section located in their community.  Oakland Township Parks and Recreation and the Paint Creek Trailways Commission have been discussing the need for a parking facility and rest area near the Adams Road crossing of the Paint Creek Trail.  “We are very excited about this project, and our partnership with Oakland Township Parks and Recreation. Additional parking and restroom facilities in this area have been listed in our Recreation Master Plan for over 20 years,” said Paint Creek Trail Manager Melissa Ford.

This new trailhead, located at Paint Creek Junction Park, on Orion Road, between Adams and Clarkston roads, will greatly improve accessibility in the only section of the Paint Creek Trail that lacks a parking lot and rest area.  The project, located near the proposed trail connection from Bald Mountain Recreation Area to the Paint Creek Trail, will provide Iron Belle and Paint Creek Trail pedestrians, bicyclists, skiers, and equestrians with a universally accessible parking lot, access trail, two unisex universally accessible vault toilets, an accessible well for potable water and a picnic area.  It will also be the first Paint Creek Trail parking lot designed to incorporate horse trailer parking.  Please see the site plan on page three for the location of these amenities.

“The grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the support of our Township residents through our Parks and Recreation Millage fund make this project feasible – without those two funding sources the development and operation of this much-needed support facility would not be possible.  We are very grateful to have this local and state support,” said Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Chairperson Colin Choi.

More information about this project can be found on the Parks and Recreation home page at www.oaklandtownship.org.

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