Harbor Springs fundraising to extend Little Traverse Wheelway

Karly Graham, The Petoskey News-Review
·2 min read

HARBOR SPRINGS — Days of lost cyclists and abrupt stoppages at Kosequat Park may be coming to an end, while the city of Harbor Springs works to bring in funds to extend the Little Traverse Wheelway into the downtown area.

Harbor Springs Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Roon said the process began a few years ago when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) put in a spillway that traveled under M-119.

Now, the Little Traverse Wheelway starts at Charlevoix Township Hall, and the 23-mile path leads to Kosequat Park in Harbor Springs. Roon said the trail ends abruptly, and people often ask how to get downtown from there.

The Little Traverse Wheelway stretches 23.5 miles, connecting Harbor Springs with Charlevoix.
The Little Traverse Wheelway stretches 23.5 miles, connecting Harbor Springs with Charlevoix.

More: Petoskey renews commitment to repair Wheelway

“Right now, the Little Traverse Wheelway ends fairly abruptly … and it doesn’t lead into downtown – at least not safely,” Roon said.

She said the goal is to create a safe path for bicyclists to get to the downtown area, leading them through the park and to a tunnel that goes under M-119, and then to downtown.

The idea to extend the park started to become a real plan following a 2019 floodplain study done by FEMA. When the project was worked on, a large box culvert was built under M-119. At the time, the city, along with partners Harbor Inc., wanted to incorporate the wheelway extension into the construction, but did not have the option at the time because there were concerns about flooding.

A recent hydrology study was done to confirm the path would still be safe, with MDOT, who has authority over the spillway, giving its “stamp of approval to allow it to be a part of the wheelway,” Roon said.

According to the Harbor Inc. website, MDOT approved the use of the culvert as a trail underpass in February of this year.

More: EGLE grant enables movement on Little Traverse Wheelway repair

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The goal is to bring in $800,000 for the expansion, Roon said. All donations are being processed through the city of Harbor Springs and can be processed via cash or check, she said. Much of the money will go towards redesigning the spillway and making the adjustments necessary for it to operate successfully as a part of the wheelway.

By extending the wheelway, Roon said she thinks bicyclists will have an easier time making their way downtown, as signage can be hard to manage and isn’t as clear as an actual path. Additionally, she said she thinks extending the wheelway will help out local businesses and bring in more traffic and patronage.

For more information on the project and how to donate, visit cityofharborsprings.com/ or call (231) 526-2104.

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Harbor Springs fundraising to extend Little Traverse Wheelway