Happy National Take a Hike Day! It has never been easier to find a trail in Southeast Michigan, thanks to combined efforts over many years at each level of government. Today, we will take this opportunity to highlight Orion Township, which was named a 2020 “Pure Michigan Trail Town” by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Orion Township is the only Township in the State of Michigan and the only community in Southeast Michigan with this distinctive honor!
Located in Northern Oakland County, Orion Township boasts 42 lakes, over 4,200 acres of parkland, and more than 50 miles of trails and pathways, which includes the popular Polly Ann and Paint Creek Trails. The community’s longtime motto, “Where living is a vacation,” seems fitting.
Communities designated as “Pure Michigan Trail Towns” are vibrant places where trail-based tourism meets the needs of trail users and all residents–where people can venture off a trail to enjoy other aspects of the community’s character and heritage. Orion Township offers exactly that.
How they got here
Building and maintaining a robust network of regional trails has been a priority in Orion Township for some time. In 2019, the township completed a large section of a new trailway along Clarkston Road with $267,600 in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grants and local funding, along with a new project to rehabilitate an existing trail along Joslyn Road. The rehabilitation project not only brings this section of trail into compliance with current standards for bicycle facilities, but it also enhances a critical link between the Paint Creek and Polly Ann Trails, each part of the statewide Iron Belle Trail.
Iron Belle Trail “Two Routes, One Great Trail”
The Iron Belle Trail is Michigan’s gem that touches hundreds of municipalities and crosses through 48 different Michigan counties. Using existing trails, networks and new connections, the trail extends more than 2,000 miles from the far western tip of the Upper Peninsula to Belle Isle in Detroit, with both biking and hiking routes. The fantastic trails in Orion Township are part of this great Michigan amenity.
The township recently dedicated an impressive new pedestrian bridge, which helps to connect the Paint Creek and Polly Ann Trails (as seen in video above). This extension is funded in part through $1.6 million in Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds with $800,000 provided by SEMCOG and MDOT.
It’s all about partnerships…
Partnerships have been integral in the development of Orion Township’s award winning local trails network and the broader Iron Belle Trail. In addition to the support from the MDNR and MDOT for trail development, SEMCOG has also assisted in hosting several county-wide planning meetings and recently provided $40,000 through the Multi-Community Planning Assistance Program to conduct a corridor safety analysis in the Great Lakes Crossing area, in partnership with Auburn Hills and the Road Commission for Oakland County. This is a perfect example of a partnership that enhances a local community, the region, and Michigan.
Kudos again to Orion Township, a “Pure Michigan Trail Town” with true amenities that make it a special place in our region.
SEMCOG is pleased to offer a reminder of the health benefits of utilizing the region’s parks and trails. These amenities are vital assets, enabling people to safely get out of the house, get exercise, and clear their heads while still safely social distancing at this challenging time.
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