RailTrail News   

Published four times a year by
the Friends of the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail
P.O. Box 505, Midland, MI 48640-0505
Editor: Warren Kruger

July , 2003                                    Vol. 11                              No. 3

Officers

Plan now to enter the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail annual bike ride on Sunday, August 10 beginning at 7:30 A.M. Ride as far as you wish. Distances can range from 3 to 6, 16, 30, 40, even 60 miles--all on the paved bike trail. As usual, for the more vigorous there will be a 100 mile loop using a combination of county roads and the bike trail.

Proceeds from the ride will provide part of the funding raised by the Friends of the Pere Marquette to support the rail-trail’s promotion, maintenance and on-going improvements. This year celebrates the Friend’s tenth anniversary and we’re anxious to have this year’s ride be a particularly successful one.

Pre-registration entrance fee is $10.00 for individuals and $25.00 for families of three or more. Day of event fee is $15.00 for individuals, $30.00 for families. Day of event registration may be done at two locations: in Midland at the Ashman Street/Tittabawasee River “Tridge” area and in Clare near the Pine Street entrance to the Doherty Hotel.

Again this year, rest stops will be located in Sanford and Coleman with snacks and other refreshments available free to all registered participants.

A 10th anniversary T-shirt is available for $15.00 but must be ordered with pre-registration. (Sizes: X-large, large, medium and small.)

For further information, see the PMRT web site: www.lmb.org/pmrt or call Warren Kruger at (989) 687-7716

To pre-register, fill out the enclosed entry form and sent it (post marked August 5 or earlier ) along with a check payable to Friends of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail (FoPMRT) to:

Look forward to seeing you on the trail on August 10!

Welcome to our new Friends of the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail members and thanks to those renewing their memberships. We hope you’ll all play an active role in maintaining and promoting the rail-trail and its activities. If you know of others who enjoy the trail but are not members, encourage them to join Friends and share in supporting the trail. (See membership application on the back page.)

On June 6 representatives from Midland County, Isabella County, the city of Coleman and Friends of the Pere Marquette met at Yesterday’s Depot in Coleman with Commissioners from Clinton County Parks and Recreation. Clinton County currently is considering a rail-trail and the purpose of the meeting was to provide that county’ commissioners with information on the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail’s effect on the communities it serves. Community leaders dis- cussed the trail’s positive impact on their communities and the public support and usage the trail regularly enjoys. Hopefully the Commissioners were impressed as they well should be.

According to the City of Midland e-mail news, an air station to pump tires has been installed on the south side of the pump station adjacent to the Gerstacker Sprayground. Bicyclists are wel- come to use the air pump free of charge but are asked to return the hose to the holder after use. For those who aren’t aware, there also is an air hose on the east side of the restrooms at the Sanford Trail Head and at Coleman Auto Supply & Bike just west of the Trail Head in Coleman (also free of charge).

This year’s Trail Ride will take place on Sunday, August 10 and a volunteer is needed to operate the ride’s SAG wagon. In addition to having a van the volunteer should have some experience fixing flat tires and doing minor trailside bike repairs. If you are able to help please contact Warren Kruger at 989-687-7716 or wsk34@aol.com. Thanks.

Dick Jellum, V.P. for the Midland Center for the Arts, has been elected to the Friends of the Pere Marquette Board of Directors. Dick, a resident since 1981, lives in Midland with his wife Melissa, daughter Laura (a recent graduate of Western Michigan University relocating to L.A. for a career in the recording industry) and son Eric (who just graduated from Midland High and is an avid mountain biker). We look forward to Dick’s contributions to the rail-trail’s continued growth and success.

Isabella County Parks and Recreation held its second annual “Tour de Trail” on Saturday, May 3 with over 60 participants (mostly families) enjoying the event. The spring bike ride started at the Loomis Trail Head and continued east to Coleman then back, a distance of almost 10 miles. Refreshments were served and there was a drawing for prizes that ranged from bicycles to helmets, water bottles and other biking accessories! Small wonder for its growing popularity. The event was very generously supported by Isabella Bank & Trust and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe along with luncheon specials fromYesterday‘s Depot in Coleman. Keep your eyes open for announcements next spring on next year’s event.

Friends of the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail will be part of this year’s Midland Area Community Foundation’s Riverdays which takes place July 17-20. Look for us in the Founders’ Day display area in Chippewassee Park on Friday, July 18.