Parts of Battle Creek's Linear Park Path temporarily closed for makeover

A worker with Hunter-Prell Co. smooths out the ground after pavement was removed in parts of Linear Park Pathway along the North Branch of the Kalamazoo River on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 in Battle Creek.
A worker with Hunter-Prell Co. smooths out the ground after pavement was removed in parts of Linear Park Pathway along the North Branch of the Kalamazoo River on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 in Battle Creek.

Javier Monteford said he uses Linear Park Path every day as a runner and cyclist.

On Friday, the Augusta resident needed to briefly take a detour down Service Street in Battle Creek, as crews continued work repaving a section of the path between Washington Ave. and Angell Street that is closed for the work.

Javier Monteford of Augusta rides his bicycle down Service Street to avoid work on the Linear Park Pathway in downtown Battle Creek on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
Javier Monteford of Augusta rides his bicycle down Service Street to avoid work on the Linear Park Pathway in downtown Battle Creek on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.

"I like when I come back jogging, spending some time down in that landing," Monteford said. "I go all the way down to Fort Custer and down to Bailey Park. I really enjoy it."

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Crews from Hunter-Prell Co. were working near the convergence of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo rivers at South Cass Street and Jackson Street on Friday. They had previously cleared trees and brush in preparation for the pavement replacement project, which will span from Washington Avenue to 20th Street when completed at a date to be determined.

A crew from Hunter-Prell Co. removes pavement from a portion of Linear Park Path on the banks of the Kalamazoo River on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 in Battle Creek.
A crew from Hunter-Prell Co. removes pavement from a portion of Linear Park Path on the banks of the Kalamazoo River on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 in Battle Creek.

Along Jackson Street, another section of the path has been temporarily closed as city crews do storm sewer work, adding a pipe to ensure storm water keeps moving and doesn't back up over the curb. That project is expected to take up to two weeks to finish.

The Linear Park trail consists of over 26 miles of pathways in Battle Creek with six different loops: the east (6.9 miles), west (6.6 miles), Fell (1.3 miles), Spring Lake at Kellogg Community College (1 mile), Riverside Elementary (1.1 mile) and the perimeter loop (10.5 miles). Linear Park is part of the 4,600-mile North Country Trail, the longest trail in the nation.

Linear Park trail map.
Linear Park trail map.

Initially proposed in 1982 to link 11 parks and seven schools, Linear Park was linked together over the ensuing years and completed in its current form in 1997. It was paid for with $1.13 million from the Michigan Land Trust Fund in 1983 and a $3.47 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 1984.

Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Parts of Battle Creek's Linear Park Path temporarily closed for makeover