PHONE: (313) 593-5518
DATE: Oct. 12, 2005
Dearborn "greenways" link to be dedicated on Oct. 29
DEARBORN---A major link in the proposed chain of regional "greenways"
paths will be dedicated in a ceremony at noon on Saturday, Oct. 29, at
the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
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Contractors are putting finishing touches on
the bridges over the Rouge River that are part of the greenway trail
running through the UM-Dearborn campus.
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Hundreds of people have already begun using portions of the path for
exercise and recreation while contractors put finishing touches on the
1.5 miles of trail and two pedestrian bridges over the Rouge River that
allow bikers and walkers to go from Hines Drive to the shopping and entertainment
district of west Dearborn. The path runs through the campuses of Henry
Ford Community College and UM-Dearborn, and includes parts of Wayne County
and City of Dearborn parklands.
The "Rouge River Gateway Greenway Trail" is part of the vision
of the Community Foundation for Southeastern
Michigan "to help connect the communities of southeastern Michigan
through the creation of a connected green infrastructure, including biking
and hiking paths, conservation corridors and habitats among and between
communities," according to Mariam Noland, executive director of the
Community Foundation.
The Dearborn link was one of more than a dozen similar projects in Wayne,
Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties
spurred by the Community Foundation, with contributions from more than
a dozen corporations and foundations in the region.
Other support for the Dearborn path has come from the Michigan
Department of Transportation, Wayne
County, the City of Dearborn,
UM-Dearborn and HFCC.
Developing a connected trail system linking the UM-Dearborn campus and
HFCC to Hines Drive and other cultural and historical landmarks is part
of a larger vision formed and promoted by the Rouge
River Gateway Partnership, a coalition of businesses, governments
and institutions in the region.
"The partnership's long-term goal is to reclaim the Rouge River
as an invaluable environmental, educational, cultural and recreational
resource, and this trail is an important building block in that effort,"
according to UM-Dearborn Chancellor Daniel Little.
"This project provides something that has been so often missing
in the Detroit metropolitan area: accessible physical links between otherwise
isolated islands of activity," Little said. "It is a very durable
and practical symbol of our connections and commitment to the metropolitan
area, and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of new visitors
to our campus."
The asphalt path runs along the Rouge River north from Michigan Avenue
and will bring visitors near the Henry
Ford Estate, a national historic landmark, and the Environmental
Interpretive Center at UM-Dearborn, before continuing onto the campus
of HFCC. At the north end of the community college, the trail will connect
to Hines Drive, which provides excellent pedestrian and bicycle access
to communities upstream along the Rouge River.
"With the help of many organizations, the Rouge corridor will show
the nation how an important natural resource can be transformed to benefit
all," HFCC President Andrew A. Mazzara said. "It is significant
that the Dearborn greenway trail was constructed with minimal impact on
the ecological environment in order to preserve the natural habitat. The
expertise of noted environmental planners was considered every step of
the way."
Before the ceremony, members of the public are welcome to attend "Rouge
2005," the 15th annual report on the status of the river and
its watershed, which will be held in the Social Sciences Building at UM-Dearborn.
For more information on Rouge 2005, contact the Office of Government Relations
at UM-Dearborn at (313) 593-5140.
Another related event, the "Dash for Health" will feature activities
for joggers, bikers and walkers along the trail. The "Dash for Health"
is a benefit for ZIAD, a community group dedicated to providing health
care for the underserved. For more information on ZIAD or the "Dash
for Health," call (734) 347-1462.
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