After numerous debates on who would foot the bill for an ‘equestrian-friendly? side trail on the Polly Ann Trail in the Village of Leonard, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has assured residents they will not have to pay.
At the Addison Township board meeting last Monday, trustee Ed Brakefield read an e-mail from Jim Radabaugh, Section Manager of recreation and trails for the DNR, which stated he’s ‘committing my trail program financial resources to make this occur.?
‘I do not expect the equestrian users of the Polly Ann Trail or Addison Township to contribute anything in this effort,? Radabaugh wrote.
Brakefield, along with other local equestrian enthusiasts, had been fighting for months to get a side path created after 1.2 miles of trail in the Village of Leonard was paved with asphalt ? a surface that could be hazardous for horse traffic.
Last September, Larry Obrecht, project manager for the trail, said to have an equestrian side trail would mean Addison would need to develop a separate trail and pay for it themselves.
In December, the township board supported a resolution affirming multi-use of the Polly Ann Trail and refused to pay.
The resolution stated Addison ‘will not participate in the management or financial support? of the trail as long as the equestrians are ‘limited and or unable to utilize only portions of the trail? and ‘rejects the heavy burden of expenses? the trail committee ‘placed on the equestrian users to construct a side path at their own cost.?
‘The DNR has now fulfilled a commitment of Addison Township and the equestrian riders,? Brakefield said before making a unanimously approved motion to accept the DNR’s commitment to the township and reaffirm equestrian use of the trail.
Although Radabaugh stated the DNR would pay for the financial burden, he said he couldn’t assure the trail work would be done by the end of this year, but that he is ‘committed to moving the project forward as quickly as I can.?
‘It’s definitely going to start this season,? Brakefield said. ‘Unfortunately, you cannot forecast things you cannot see.?
If the work extends into 2007, Brakefield said Radabaugh’s putting it on his ‘priority list.?
‘Right now, we’re just going to take Jim Radabaugh at his word,? he said. ‘So far he hasn’t let us down.?
Despite the DNR’s decision, Addison’s withdrawal from the Polly Ann Trail Management Council due to the inability to afford the $9,250 in annual dues stands as is.