Lower Huron Metropark a 1,256-acre park located in southwest Wayne County. It is one of 13 parks owned and managed by Huron-Clinton Metroparks. (Photo: Metroparks)

Posted by The Huron Hub on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020

The Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority is seeking public input on three projects designed to improve areas of Lower Huron Metropark.

The projects would be funded by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Recreation Grants program.

Lower Huron Metropark is one of thirteen Metroparks owned and managed by HCMA. It is a 1,256-acre park located in southwest Wayne County. These projects are three of four grant projects HCMA will submit to the MDNR and all four will help realize several goals throughout the park system identified in the park Master Plans adopted by HCMA Board of Commissioners in 2016.

The public is invited to review the proposals for the site plans on the Metroparks website.

A project display will also be posted for a two-week public review period at the Lower Huron park office at 40151 East Huron River Drive, and Van Buren Township Parks and Recreation Dept. at 4645 Tyler Rd., Van Buren Twp.

If awarded these grant funds, the following projects would be completed at Lower Huron
Metropark:

The development of an off-leash dog area at the Tawata Trace Trail area. Nestled within
a bend of the Huron River, the off-leash dog area would re-activate the location of the
former par 3 golf course using universal design principles and include:

●accessible walkways and parking including pathways extending into each dog playfield
●landscaping improvements including a 0.4 acre no mow zone
●demolition of old golf building and surrounds
●accessible moveable restroom
●four new benches with wheelchair companion sitting spaces
●dual drinking fountain for people and dogs
●new trash cans and dog waste stations
●separate fields for large and small dogs
●fully accessible bullpen area

Campground improvements at Walnut Grove Campground. The park is one of two
Metroparks with a public campground. Situated near Tulip Tree Picnic Area, it provides
easy access to picnicking, fishing and the popular water facility – Turtle Cove.
Improvements would include:

●developing six new camping sites
●developing seven ADA camping sites with new concrete pads
●water and electric hookups to all campsites
●38 new accessible picnic tables throughout the campground
●three new fire pits and proposed firewood storage unit
●landscaping improvements including a 2.7 acre no mow zone and 50 native tree
plantings
●wi-fi
●two drinking fountain/water bottle filling stations
●playground improvements including two new ADA harness swings
●parking lot improvements including pavement removal of excess parking areas

Construction of a 0.5 mile Iron Belle Trail segment. The Iron Belle Trail is a
state-designated trail with both a hiking and biking arm reaching from Belle Isle in
Detroit to Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula.

Known as Michigan’s showcase trail, it utilizes many of the state’s existing hike-bike paths, bike lanes, and biking routes and other planned trail segments.

The proposed project involves constructing a 10 foot wide universal accessible asphalt
trail segment that re-aligns the Iron Belle Trail at the north end of Lower Huron to
connect with a future segment west to Belleville, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor. The project is
the result of an ongoing collaboration with other communities and organizations
dedicated to implementing the regional Border-to-Border Trail system located in nearby
Washtenaw County.

Input and comments on all projects will be accepted via email to Jay Bibby at Jason.Bibby@metroparks.com from February 24 through March 6, 2020.