Equestrian lovers from Addison Twp. voiced their concerns Sept. 14 at a Polly Ann Trail Management Council meeting about the recent trail surfacing and bridge project.
The project, which began the beginning of September, will have 12.2 miles of the 12-foot-wide trail resurfaced with crushed limestone.
The trail begins at Bordman Rd. in Addison Twp. and runs south through Oxford and ends at Indianwood Rd. in Orion.
The concern comes with two small areas in the Villages of Leonard and Oxford to be paved with asphalt, 1.2 and 2.2 miles, respectively.
Horse owners, who argued that horses need softer grounds to walk safely on, stated that the asphalt was never stated in the original plans submitted to the Polly Ann Trail Management Council for approval.
Ed Brakefield, who sits on the council, said at a meeting in 2003 the project plans were presented and were passed unanimously because they believed it would be ‘horse-friendly.?
‘That night, we did not see any asphalt on the trail or else we wouldn’t have approved it,? he said adamently.
Brakefield said Addison Twp. has no say in the section in the Village of Leonard to be paved, which runs from Elmwood St. to Gerst.
The Village of Leonard just last Tuesday rejected Brakefield’s motion to propose that Leonard not pave the section.
‘Addison Township unfortunately has their hands tied,? he said.
Larry Obrecht, project manager for the Polly Ann Trail, said Brakefield and other horse owners were seriously mistaken.
He showed the audience of angry residents the original master plan for the project dated for July of 1998.
‘It clearly identifies the capital cost estimates of asphalt. One point two miles in Leonard Village, two point two miles in the Village of Oxford,? Obrecht said. ‘That’s been on the table, voted for and certainly discussed at numerous Polly Ann Trail council meetings. To suggest that nobody knew these pieces of asphalt ever existed is silly.?
Obrecht said he even fought tooth and nail with the DNR to keep the trail open for equestrian use.
‘They wanted to build 12 miles of asphalt and they wanted to close the trail to horse traffic,? he said.
The decision to use asphalt, according to Obrecht, came from the local units of government involved in the project.
In 2004, Obrecht said there was an update to the project’s master plan which states that in order to have an equestrian trail, Addison Twp. would need to develop a separate trail adjacent to the main trail.
‘We’re now hearing different ideas of what parallel means,? Brakefield argued. ‘If you build this trail, it’s going to be out of your own pocket, your own time and at your own expense.?
Obrecht said he has been offered to double the current working crew made up of Oakland County offenders to start clearing for the side trail, but said that it’s not part of this main project.
Even if another trail is constructed, Obrecht said equestrian riders would have to be on asphalt in certain areas where wetlands and private property border the trail.
Brakefield’s wife, Catherine, said she doesn’t mind more people from the public getting to use the trail, but she is very concerned for the horses safety.
According to Brakefield, asphalt that is wet or has leaves is almost like walking on ice for a horse.
‘Anybody who loves horses wouldn’t put their horses on this for 20 miles, let alone 10,? she said.
Obrecht said these allegations ‘took him by surprise? and that to put a stop on the project now would mean an unhappy DNR.
‘The DNR is truly not interested in making a change. If the council decides they want to make a change, then I’ll certainly submit it,? he said.
If the Polly Ann Trail Management Council votes to make a change to the project, Obrecht said they will have to sustain serious ramifications, like long delays, paying a contractor for work not being done and the re-submission of a scope change.