Friends of the Macomb Orchard Trail Home Page

Last Update: June 15, 2009

The next Friends group meeting will be:

Tues. June 23rd, 2009
7PM at
Wolcott Mill Metropark, Camp Rotary Activity Bldg.
20505 29 Mile Road
Ray Township, Michigan

Note: Friends meetings are open to the public and public participation is encouraged.

Phase II Trail update: (Jan. 27. 2009)

HRC (Hubble Roth & Cark) has been awarded the contract for engineering services for bridge engineering over the north branch of the Clinton River and re-engineering 7 miles of the stone path. Jesse Vandercreek of HRC reported that testing will be done to determine whether to rehabilitate or replace section of the bridge. HRC will wait until spring to see how the stone on the path has reacted over the winter. There was no substantial binding effect last year and HRC is not anticipating any benefit this year. HRC is looking as a summer/fall construction project and will report back at the next meeting.

Nov. 18, 2008 - Trail Status

Since we get a lot of questions on the trail's status, here's an un-official view:

- It's paved and open from Dequindre rd. to Powell rd.
- The bridge over the expressway just north of 32 mile is now open.
- I'm told that the Powell rd. bridge is closed. It's deemed as unsafe as the cement foundation is crumbling. They're studying it and will repair it. I don't have a date for the repairs.
- Oct. 10th, per Al Goetzinger: A new engineering firm has been hired to determine what to do about the problems with the gravel on the trail (fix or replace). (note - surfacing the trail with blacktop is not being planned - that would have to be paid for by the township(s).
- Kent landscaping has been contracted to keep the trail clear of brush. They recently cleared both sides of the trail and it is MUCH better/wider.

Trail Maps: (Updated May 2008)

The Macomb Orchard Trail Commission has printed a glossy brochure with a map of the trail from Dequindre all the way to Richmond. We have reproduced the map as two PDF pages which you can view and print. NOTE: These are newer maps with miles. They are around 1.75 meg's each so they may take a few seconds to load if you're on a dialup line.

Click Here for the new Macomb Orchard Trail Map - Page 1

Click Here for the new Macomb Orchard Trail Map - Page 2

The Covered Bridge – Status update Mar. 27, 2007

A meeting was held in January with AEW Engineering, R.L. Architects and Lombardo Construction. It was decided to go with the steel support ties if possible for ease of construction and strength, assuming we can get them at a reasonable price. All the design work is complete and Greg Windingland of Lombardo Construction is working to get a materials list and rough materials cost estimate. It’s proving to be tough getting the lumber yards to donate the lumber due to the housing slowdown, so once I receive the materials list and estimates from Greg I’m going to try to get some publicity and see if I can help free up some donations. If you’re interested in donating, let me know (nkocsis@comcast.net), but until we have the materials list, I can’t give you any specifics.

Note: To ask questions or report concerns/problems about the Macomb Orchard Trail.
Call Macomb County Parks & Recreation: (586) 979-7010 ext 2.

NOTE: Most meeting minutes from 2005 or later are in PDF format which requires Adobe Reader (Free from Adobe Systems). Most computers already have Adobe Reader, but if you need a copy, go to www.adobe.com and click on the "Get Adobe Reader" Icon.

Minutes from the March 24, 2009 Friends meeting are now on-line: Click here to read them

The Summer 2008 Friends Newsletter is now on-line. Click here to read it.

With 11,833 miles of rail-trails in the United States, where do you turn for information?
Why, www.TrailLink.com of course! Try it!

The Macomb Orchard Trail Commission's web site can be found at: www.macomborchardtrail.com

Next meeting: June 23rd at 7 P.M.
Meetings are normally at:
Wolcott Mill Metropark, Camp Rotary Activity Bldg.
20505 29 Mile Road
Ray Township, Michigan
Meetings are typically the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Same place, same time.

Number of visitors since January 2000