Kalamazoo River Valley Trailway, Happy Trails to You!

Click for funding and construction UPDATE!

Click to download KRVT article

A Great Opportunity

The Kalamazoo River meanders through pristine wildflower fields and woodlots, and winds through some of our loveliest countryside and small towns in southwest Michigan.

Our vision is to revitalize the area around this once grand resource by completing a Trailway that will take us from Battle Creek to Lake Michigan. It will be one of the longest non-motorized recreational, historical and cultural greenway venues in the state.

The Trailway will connect Battle Creek’s Linear Park and the Kal-Haven State Trail Park, and embodies an expression of our deep community values of land preservation, conservation and restoration. It also presents a rare opportunity to tangibly enhance the possibilities for environmentally-sound, wholesome recreation, alternative transportation and shared community for generations to come.

We have garnered the financial interests of the State and have become a priority in the Trailway network expansion program. The State is committed to funding its share to complete the Trailway, with planned grants totaling $8 million. To receive these monies, however, we must match that $8 million from private funding, for a grand total of $16 million, which will be administered by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by getting. We make a life by giving.” To us, this means that every one of you has the opportunity to give back to your communities and return the blessings received for the betterment of those communities.


	Click for funding and construction UPDATE! Click to download KRVT article A Great Opportunity The Kalamazoo River meanders through pristine wildflower fields and woodlots, and winds through some of our loveliest countryside and small towns in southwest Michigan. Our vision is to revitalize the area around this once grand resource by completing a Trailway that will take us from Battle Creek to Lake Michigan. It will be one of the longest non-motorized recreational, historical and cultural greenway venues in the state. The Trailway will connect Battle Creek’s Linear Park and the Kal-Haven State Trail Park, and embodies an expression of our deep community values of land preservation, conservation and restoration. It also presents a rare opportunity to tangibly enhance the possibilities for environmentally-sound, wholesome recreation, alternative transportation and shared community for generations to come. We have garnered the financial interests of the State and have become a priority in the Trailway network expansion program. The State is committed to funding its share to complete the Trailway, with planned grants totaling $8 million. To receive these monies, however, we must match that $8 million from private funding, for a grand total of $16 million, which will be administered by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by getting. We make a life by giving.” To us, this means that every one of you has the opportunity to give back to your communities and return the blessings received for the betterment of those communities.	On behalf of the Parks Foundation of Kalamazoo County, we invite you to join us in helping to build upon the areas surrounding our regional natural resource that will enhance all of our lives. Completion of the Trailway ensures a plan towards preserving green space. It will be an open invitation to adventure extended to more than 400,000 community residents and visitors to experience and enjoy our great southwest Michigan outdoors. It is your chance to bridge history and nature, and an opportunity for you to be able to tell your children or your grandchildren the part you played in enhancing one of the best natural resource areas in the state. Please join us in this enterprise. Happy Trails To You, Al Gemrich & Bob Tower Campaign Co-Chairs “This Trailway ties together various parts of the attractive state of Michigan.” Edwin and Mary Meader Honorary Co-Chairs A Tribute to Ed and Mary Meader





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