Isabella County Parks has completed the second phase of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail Beautification Project. Aging trail bollards have been replaced with new, specialized rail-trail gates, and all trail signage along the 8.25-mile section of trail in Isabella County has been updated.
Previously, bollards were in place at locations where the trail intersects a roadway to prevent illegal motorized traffic from entering the trail. The center bollard at each intersection was removable, but was very heavy and awkward, and some that were not removed regularly were even harder, or impossible, to remove when necessary. This made it very difficult and time-consuming to provide access for maintenance and emergency vehicles.
The specialized gates have been a major improvement as they can easily be unlocked and swing fully open to allow authorized vehicles to pass unimpeded, in the case of an emergency, or maintenance needs. The gates are also designed to allow non-motorized users (people on foot or bicycle) to pass through a small gap in the center, while still preventing illegal off-road vehicle traffic. Overall, the new gates and updated gate signs are more attractive, more efficient, and improve access in a variety of maintenance-based and emergency scenarios.
Isabella County Parks received two grants to help fund this second phase of the PMRT Beautification Project. The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation awarded the first grant, in the amount of $6,350, on June 20, 2024. This grant was supported by the Bandit Industries Community Fund, Brewster Family Access to Recreation Fund, Schafer Community Impact Fund, Summit Petroleum Fund, and Theunissen Family Fund, all held at the Foundation. The Mt. Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (MPACVB) awarded the second grant, in the amount of $4,650, on October 29, 2024, as part of their Destination Development fund awards — funds that are invested back into the Mt. Pleasant community for sports and general tourism improvements. The total cost to complete the second phase of the project was $11,645.01.
The goal of the PMRT Beautification Project is to repair, beautify and enhance the 8.25-mile section of the rail trail that runs through Isabella County and make it a destination for cyclists. Midland County Parks is also working to upgrade, repair and beautify their 22-mile section of the trail, so another goal is to ensure a consistently positive visitor experience for the whole 30 miles from Midland to Clare. In addition, the connecting trail from Clare to Farwell was completed in Summer 2024, so cyclists can now ride safely from Midland to Baldwin (about 90 miles). The Isabella County section of trail opened in 2001, and the tunnel under US-127 was completed in 2008. The trail has been maintained since then, but no major improvement steps had been taken until this project was started in 2023.
Isabella County Parks is grateful to our community partners for providing this funding support to improve the Pere Marquette Rail Trail in Isabella County!
