MTGA Trails Toolkit

A GreenWays Initiative Presentation that explores different trail management & operation options.

A very comprehensive document covering all aspects of trail and greenway organization.

The experience on 372 trails. Written by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in cooperation with the National Parks Service.

The Michigan legislature has enacted a “Recreational Use Statute” to encourage owners and managers to allow public access for recreation use on their lands.

Although the general public thinks of a corridor as being “owned” by a railroad, in reality the average rail right-of-way is a hodgepodge of different legal entities that do not come unraveled until abandonment. In general, the railroad will own some portions of the corridor outright (in fee “simple”) while it will only have restricted use of other portions (“easements”).

Through Green Infrastructure (trails and greenways) we; enrich habitat and biodiversity, maintain natural landscape processes, clean the air and water, reduce the cost of traditional “grey infrastructure” and community services, increase recreational and transportation opportunities, improve health, provide
connection to nature and sense of place and we enhance economic vitality!