BUCHANAN — Local officials held a groundbreaking Monday for a major new trail project in Buchanan.

Community members gathered to celebrate the beginning of the McCoy’s Creek Trail Extension Project, which will connect Buchanan to the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail.

Local, state, and federal representatives and partners were on hand to celebrate the milestone for Buchanan and the region. The event featured the groundbreaking ceremony with brief remarks by dignitaries, a plaque presentation for key project members followed by refreshments and fellowship.

The McCoy’s Creek Trail Extension project is being led by a coalition of community leaders including Jerry Flenar and Don Brooks of Friends of McCoy‘s Creek Trail, Suzannah Deneau of Wightman & Associates, Fran Tuite of Flatwater Farms, and Kris Martin and Brandon Kovnat of the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission with support of the Buchanan City Commission and the Buchanan Township Board. 

“The McCoy Creek Trail has been a project for the city for many years and Jerry, the City of Buchanan and everybody here have been working diligently to make this day a reality,” said Buchhanan Mayor Mark Weedon. The trail extension supports small businesses and it’s going to offer safe transportation for bicyclists and pedestrians alike. Our ultimate goal with this project is to connect up with the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail that is located in Niles.”

The existing McCoy’s Creek Trail is an approximately five-mile improved shared use path that runs along McCoy’s Creek, through prairie, downtown Buchanan and E.B. Clark Woods. It includes historical markers and natural elements that tell the history of Buchanan and the region. The McCoy’s Creek Trail Extension Project would extend the existing McCoy’s Creek Trail a half-mile along Schirmer Parkway, down River Street across River Street Bridge and into Buchanan Township.

This extension will not only provide recreational opportunities, but also alternative transportation options for residents and visitors to the region. Additional benefits include healthy lifestyle promotion, handicap accessibility, tourism/economic development, improved air quality, stronger community connections, and a great enhancement to the region’s overall quality of life.

“Trails are really one of the highest and best uses for our tax dollars because it improves quality of life for the communities,” said Berrien County Commissioner Mac Elliott. When we can do things like that, it makes this a better,  more attractive place to live.”

The extension project was funded via a $340,000 grant from the Niles-Buchanan Area Transportation Study and the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program and a $300,000 grant from the Michigan DNR Natural Resources Trust Fund. Multiple funding sources on the federal, state, and local level were pursued for the project. 

Because of the connections the trail extension will create between historic and architecturally significant assets, walkable arts and culture experiences, special experiences in adjacent natural resources and more, the city believes the McCoy’s Creek Trail Extension Project essentially elevates the existing trail into “Cultural Trail Status” and creates a “Walkable Treasure Trove” that will be of regional significance.

“With over 13,000 miles of state-designated trails, Michigan is a national leader in trail transportation across the state,” said Michigan Department of Natural Resources Grants Coordinator Kelsey Dietz. “This figure does not even include all of the local trails, which adds thousands of miles for the enjoyment of residents and visitors to our great state.

Dietz said the Michigan DNR is “a proud partner” of the project through funding through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The trust fund was established in 1976 and is funded through oil and gas revenue on leases and mineral royalties on state land. Since its Inception nearly 50 years ago, it has funded the acquisition and development of thousands of parks and trails across the state.

“Projects like this do not just happen,” she said. “It takes a lot of work to accomplish this. From all involved, the Michigan DNR would like to congratulate the City of Buchanan and all of the local partners who have made this a reality.”

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