Funding nature's network

Downriver greenways project avoids roadblocks

Communities find creative ways to fund beautification projects

Jim Lynch / The Detroit News

Clinton Township

The plan calls for a network of green spaces spread over southeastern Michigan, linking seven counties via walking trails, bike paths and natural areas.

It was drawn up by municipalities and community groups several years ago -- during headier days when the state and the nation hadn't entered the downward fiscal spiral both remain in today. Now budgets have tightened, government departments are facing cuts and discretionary spending seems like a distant memory.

Despite those roadblocks, communities are managing to move forward with their greenways efforts by utilizing grant programs, development authorities and treating these projects as investments in the future -- opportunities to increase their municipalities' quality of life and bolster their attractiveness.

Several new projects have wrapped up or are nearing completion in the Downriver area this year, including: a 1.5-mile stretch of path between Rockwood and Berlin Township, and a 2-mile stretch near Gibraltar, linking Lake Erie Metropark and the International Wildlife Refuge.

"It's really heartening to see the way communities are working together, and these projects are happening," said Anita Twardesky, co-chairwoman of the Downriver Linked Greenways Initiative. "Neighbors are acting like real neighbors to make these things happen."

But communities may have to start getting more creative if they hope to continue connecting greenways dots. Many projects wrapping up now were planned more than a year ago, and new projects may run into tighter purse strings.

"It's pretty tough nowadays to do any big project without a grant being involved," said Mayor Richard Jones of Flat Rock, a city that has been active in constructing greenways links. "If it wasn't for (tax capture) programs and development authorities, we probably couldn't have completed the programs we have so far."

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, a group promoting philanthropy throughout the region, has been instrumental in helping many greenways projects get off the ground. Since 2001, $17.5 million in fundsraised by the foundation has been used to leverage tens of millions of more dollars in the form of federal and state grants for Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties.

But that well has dried up, according to Thomas Woiwode, director of the foundation's greenways initiative.

"What we're seeing now, in those communities that have identified opportunities for links, they're beginning to plan for the future when more resources become available," he said.

And that's a key for communities looking to pull themselves out of economic doldrums, even when money is tight, according to one Macomb County official.

Steve Cassin, the county's director of planning and economic development, said surveys have shown that the top two factors for industry looking to locate a new operation include the availability of work force and quality of life. Greenways and outdoor offerings, he said, are a major factor in quality of life considerations.

That's a sentiment Clinton Township resident Rick Moorman can agree with. Moorman and other members of the Clinton River Riders -- a collection of bicycling enthusiasts -- often bike up to 50 miles a day between April and November. Each new greenways link provides another route.

"It's absolutely a quality of life issue," he said. "You see so many people out there with their families using the links we have now."  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  (313) 222-2034