The Village of Lake Orion, and now Orion Township, have come on board to accept a donation of land from the Aspen Group for the Paint Creek Trailways.
The Aspen Group is developing the Atwater Commons project, and has offered to donate 1/3 of a mile of limestone fines trail to the Paint Creek Trailways Commission. The trail would extend from the village border to Atwater.
Also part of the donation will be one acre of land next to the trail for a potential trailhead park, as well as a 12-car parking lot, surfaced and striped, with a bicycle rack and appropriate signage.
When he appeared before the Orion Township trustees on March 15 asking for their support, Paint Creek Trailways Commission Vice-Chairman and Rochester City Councilman David Becker called the proposed donation ‘exceptional.?
‘It’s nearly 1.8 acres…worth $750,000,? he said. ‘It’s a marvelous donation from a generous individual.?
Becker said the Paint Creek Trail is 20 years old, with 8.5 miles of trail passing through four communities. The concept plan for accepting the donation has been presented to the other three communities, Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township; with Orion Township the last area to give approval.
‘The Village of Lake Orion will be allowed an ex-officio non-voting member to sit on the trailways commission, and they will receive all information and be able to participate in all debates,? Becker said. ‘They have also asked that any information sent to their commission member also be sent to the village manager.
‘They are very concerned this parcel be handled properly, and we share that with them,? he said.
With the donation, the Paint Creek Trailways Commission will be able to finish the north end of the trail, and start to connect it with the Polly Ann Trail.
‘Maintenance will be annual, with resurfacing (for the parking lot) in 20 years,? Becker said. ‘We estimate $300 a year for annual maintenance and $3,000 to resurface the lot.?
The commission will seek money from private sources and also from grants, said Becker.
Becker said the next step will be a legal agreement, which the commission’s attorneys are currently working on. He said that should be done in a few weeks.
‘This is something that’s not happened overnight,? said treasurer James Marleau.