>> WELCOME TO COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

I'M YOUR HOST, SHELLY IRWIN.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE MANY, MANY, MANY TRAILS IN WEST MICHIGAN.

AND THE EXPERTS, MELISSA WORKMAN, AND ANDREA KETCHMARK, AND AARON, AND I TURN TO YOU FOR ALL OF OUR TITLES AND HOW YOU SPEND YOUR DAYS, AND LOVING THE TRAILS.

SO LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU, IF I MAY, AARON.

TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND THE GOOD WORK YOU DO.

>> WELL, I AM THE CHAIR OF THE WEST MICHIGAN TRAILS AND GREEN WAYS COALITION WHICH REALLY COVERS PRIMARILY FROM KALAMAZOO UP TO CADILLAC AND DOWN THE LAKE SHORE.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW DECADES SUPPORTING TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION AND PROMOTION.

WE'RE REALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRED MEYER TRAILS, AND WE GET A LOT OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION ALL OVER WEST MICHIGAN.

AND NOW WE HAVE A MISSION OF CREATING THE WORLD CLASS TRAIL SYSTEM IN WEST MICHIGAN BECAUSE THERE ARE AS MANY GREAT TRAILS AS THERE ARE, THERE ARE KEY GAPS.

SOME GAPS ARE FINISHING SOME BIG TRAILS LIKE THE WHITE PINE TRAIL, THEN THERE ARE SMALLER GAPS THAT ARE LIKE IN GRAND RAPIDS ALONG THE RIVERFRONT LIKE FROM THE MAIN PART OF DOWNTOWN CONNECTED TO THE WATERFRONT.

THEN I'LL QUICK MENTION, THE PARK PLANNER AND THERE I ASSIST WITH A LOT OF STUFF BUT I ASSIST WITH ONE TRAIL.

WE HAVE A PROJECT, THE GRAND RIVER GREEN WAY WHICH STRETCHES FROM THE BORDER TO GRAND HAVEN.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF BUILDING A 37-MILE TRAIL THAT HAS SEVERAL PHASES THAT IT WILL TAKE YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A BIG PROJECT, AND IT WAS SUPPORTED BY PEOPLE LIKE PETER SEKIA.

WE MISS HIM GREATLY, AND THAT'S REALLY AN EXCITING PROJECT THAT PEOPLE HONEST LIKE .

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

IT'S KIND OF TUCKED AWAY WITH THESE GREAT RAVINES LOOKING OVER THE RIVER.

AND MELISSA MIGHT KNOW IT BECAUSE TOM WAS INVOLVED WITH THE COUNTY PARKS FOR A WHILE.

THAT'S WHAT I WORK ON IN TRAILS.

>> WE'LL ASK ABOUT SOME OF THE HIDDEN GEMS FOR SURE.

THE NORTH COUNTY TRAIL ASSOCIATION, ANDREA, IS HOUSED RIGHT HERE IN WEST MICHIGAN.

>> IT IS.

WE'RE ONE OF 11 NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS.

MOST PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE THE A TRAILS, AND THE HEADQUARTERS ARE RIGHT HERE IN WEST MICHIGAN.

AND WE HAVE MORE MILES IN MICHIGAN THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

WE'VE GOT 1,150 MILES OF THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL THAT WINDS THROUGH THE LOWER PENINSULA AND THEN UP ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF THE U.P.

IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE AND THE REAL CORE OF WHAT WE DO ARE OUR VOLUNTEERS.

THEY'RE THE ONE WHO IS DO ALL OF THE GOOD WORK AND MAINTAIN THIS TRAIL.

>> WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND.

>> I THINK IT'S UP IN THE U.P.

AND OTTAWA.

>> NICE ROAD TRIP.

MELS SHAH WORKMAN YOU KNOW I HAD TO TALK ABOUT BRING A BICYCLE AND THE TRAILS.

TALK ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF MICHIGAN BICYCLISTS AND YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> YES, I'M HONORED TO BE A BOARD MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE OF MICHIGAN BICYCLISTS.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME ADVOCATING AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO RIDE BIKES IN ALL MANNER.

WHETHER IT'S A ROAD BIKE OR MOUNTAIN BIKE, PEOPLE USING BIKES FOR TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE A SAFETY WORK.

AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT BICYCLING AS A RECREATION.

I ALSO AM VERY CONNECTED TO THE MOUNTAIN BIKING COMMUNITY.

I WAS FORMERLY DIRECTOR OF THE MICHIGAN BIKE ALLIANCE AND SUPPORTED THE WEST MICHIGAN ALLIANCE AS WELL AS MICHIGAN'S EDGE.

AND SO I THINK WE HAVE A FAIR DEGREE OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE TRAILS IN THE AREA AND WE LIKE TO UTILIZE THEM.

>> WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD TRAIL?

>> WHEN I CONSIDER MY JOB I'LL GO AND CHECK OUT THE TRAILS.

FROM NASHVILLE OR KNOXVILLE OR NEW YORK.

AND DETROIT AND MICHIGAN.

I GUESS I'LL TALK MAINLY LIKE, PAVED AND IMPROVED TRAILS VERSUS HIKE TRAILS LIKE THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN WEST MICHIGAN THERE ARE TRAILS LOOK THE ROAD.

THOSE ARE GREAT FOR GETTING PEOPLE AROUND.

THE TRAILS THAT HAVE THE LATEST IMPACT ON PEOPLE WHICH IS SEPARATED FROM THE ROADWAY WHERE YOU'RE OFF ON YOUR OWN, AND YOU HAVE FEW INTERPRETATION INTER THE TRAIL IN NEW YORK.

IT'S A TRAIL ABOVE THE CITY THAT IS TWO MILES LONG, BUT YOU'RE ABOVE IT ALL AND EXPLORING IT.

OTHERS LIKE--SO BEING OUTDOORS IN NATURE WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THAT CASE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN NEW YORK, WHERE YOU'RE ON AN ADVENTURE.

WE USUALLY DON'T RIDE BIKES BECAUSE WE HAVE A DOG.

WE CAN'T LEAVE HIM HOME WE EXPERIENCE THE TRAILS AT A PEDESTRIAN LEVEL.

A KEY THING THAT WE'VE ALL WORKED ON.

IT'S ONE WHERE YOU'RE WELL TAKEN CARE OF AS A USER.

KNOWING WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND WHERE YOU'RE HEADING.

THERE ARE SOME GAPS HERE IN MICHIGAN IN WAY FINDING.

WHERE IS THE TRAIL HEADING, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM AND WHAT ARE THE AMENITIES NEARBY.

>> IN YOUR WORLD, WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD TRAIL.

>> A GOOD TRAIL CAN BE MANY THINGS.

OFTEN WE LOOK FORWARD WITH THE LENGTH OF THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL DIVERSITY AND LANDSCAPE.

AS AARON SAID YOU CAN HAVE THESE TRAILS HAD A ARE MORE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND GO ALONG ROADWAYS, BUT A WINDING PATH THROUGH A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS THE KEY I THINK FOR THE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL.

BUT THAT PATH CAN BE THROUGH FARMLAND AND RURAL COUNTRY ROADS OR THE THICK OF DENSE WOODS OR IN NORTH DAKOTA WE GO THROUGH GRASS LANDS AND PRAIRIE COUNTRY.

SO THIS ABILITY FOR A TRAIL TO TAKE YOU TO A NEW PLACE, AND WE WANT--WE HAVE A LOT OF WINDING PATHS BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO WONDER WHAT IS AROUND THAT NEXT BEND.

WE WANT TO IMMERSE PEOPLE IN THAT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT REALLY LET'S THEIR MIND WANDER WHILE THEY'RE GETTING THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WHICH ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT OUTDOOR RECREATION COMES TOGETHER PERFECTLY ON.

>> WONDERFUL.

SO WHAT NEEDS TO BE THE IDEAL TRAIL FOR MY MOUNTAIN BIKE, MELISSA?

>> WELL, A TRAIL THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE, FIRST OF ALL, THAT YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO USE, THAT IS IMPORTANTLY WELL MAINTAINED FOR YOUR SAFETY, BUT ALSO KEEPING IN MIND THE ECOLOGY AND MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DOING ANY DAMAGE ENVIRONMENTALLY, THAT WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS.

THE BEST TRAIL, WE'RE BLESSED IN WEST MICHIGAN TO HAVE TRAILS THAT ARE NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL IN THEIR NATURAL SETTING, BUT ACCESSIBLE FOR A FAMILY RIDE OR MAYBE SOMEBODY JUST WANTS TO GO AND UNPLUG AFTER WORK, NOT THINK TOO MUCH AND JUST ENJOY THE NATURAL SETTING.

SOMETHING THAT IS NICE AND FLOWY AND ACCOMMODATING.

WE HAVE TRIALS THAT ARE CHALLENGING, FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE CHALLENGED BY THE FEATURES.

WE HAVE THAT FOR SURE.

WE HAVE MANY TO CHOOSE FROM.

>> I'LL STAY WITH YOU, MELISSA ON THIS NEXT ETIQUETTE OF BIKER, RUNNER DOG WALKER, WHO GETS THE RIGHT OF WAY.

>> HIKERS PEDESTRIANS GET THE RIGHT OF WAY ON TRAILS JUST LIKE THEY DO ON THE ROADWAY.

EQUESTRIANS.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER SOMEONE ON HORSEBACK, WE ALWAYS GIVE HORSES RIGHT OF WAY SO WE DON'T SPOOK HORSES AND CAUSE SITUATIONS.

A BICYCLIST IS TO YIELD TO EVERYONE ELSE ON THE TRAIL TECHNICALLY.

>> WONDERFUL.

ANDREA, IN YOUR WORLD, AN AN ETIQUETTE OR TWO.

>> LEAVE NO TRACE.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY LITTERING, BUT WE'RE LEAVING THE PLACE IN BETTER CONDITION.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE LOTS OF DOG OWNERS NOT PICKING UP AFTER THEIR DOGS.

THERE ARE SEVEN LEAVE NO-TRACE PRINCIPLES.

THERE ARE SOME GREAT LESSONS FOR DICTATING WHERE YOU CAN CAMP AND WHERE YOU CAN'T.

REALLY KNOWING TO STAY ON THE PATH, AND TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE LAND MANAGER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE--WE LOVE BEING IN THE OUTDOORS BUT WE DON'T WANT TO LOVE IT TO DEATH.

SO THAT IT IS THERE FOR EVERYONE.

>> A LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

>> AARON, YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES GAPS.

WHAT IS THE BIG PICTURE, TO CONNECT WEST MICHIGAN WITH NORTHERN MICHIGAN, SOUTHERN MICHIGAN?

WHAT ARE THE DREAMS AND WHAT NEEDS TO BEEN NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> THE WORKING WITH TRAIL ALLIANCE AND TO HAVE DISCUSSION WITH WHAT IS THE SYSTEM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PLANS OUT THERE, BUT WE WORK TO COMBINE THEM AND PRIORITIZE THEM.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE BIG GAPS AND SMALL GAPS.

I THINK WHAT WE ULTIMATELY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS--IN WEST MICHIGAN A SYSTEM THAT YOU CAN GET FROM NEW BUFFALO TO MACKINAW CITY ALONG THE WEST COAST.

UP FROM KALAMAZOO TO TRAVERSE CITY IN THE CENTRAL AREA, AND THEN CONNECT EAST-WEST IN BETWEEN.

THERE ARE SOME GREAT TRAILS THAT ARE ALMOST THERE.

THE FRED MEYER PIONEER TRAIL NOW YOU CAN GET FROM MUSKEGON TO CADILLAC WITH SOME AREAS THAT AREN'T PAVED.

I THINK FOR ME INTEREST IS A MIX.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT TRAILS THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON I THINK PART OF THAT STRUGGLE ARE SO YOU CAN JUST GO FROM YOUR DOOR TO ANY EVER THESE PLACES.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT JUST AREN'T WELL-CONNECTED.

ONE THING ABOUT TRAIL ETIQUETTE, SOME THINGS ARE TOUGHER ON SIDEWALKS.

WHY DO WE NEED A TRAIL WHEN WE HAVE A SIDEWALK.

WELL, A SIDEWALK IS ONLY FIVE FEET WIDE.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY TOUGHER FOR BIKERS AND PEDESTRIANS TO NAVIGATE, OR IF YOU'RE ON A WHEELCHAIR OR ELECTRIC CARTS AND YOU WANT TO USE IT, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE IT WITH DOGS AND CHILDREN AND BIKES, FIVE FEET IS NOT ENOUGH.

SO TEN FEET IS THE GOLD STANDARD WIDTH FOR A TRAIL.

THAT'S PART OF THE ACCESS.

AND THE GAPS WHERE THERE ARE PLACES THAT ARE SIDEWALKS WHERE IT IS NOT THE BEST USE OR THE MOST COMFORT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BIKERS.

AND OUR SYSTEM, RATHER THAN HUNDREDS OF MILES OF GREAT MULTI USE PATHWAYS THERE ARE GAPS THAT MAKE IT A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT TO, AND THEN HIGHWAYS TO CROSS OR RIVERS TO CROSS.

IN HOLLAND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUTDOOR DISCOVERY CENTER AND LOCAL UNITS THERE AT THE COUNTY PARKS TO GET TRAILS FROM HOLLAND STATE PARK ALL THE WAY TO KENT COUNTY.

AND ONE OF THE HARD PARTS IS GETTING ACROSS U.S. 31 AND 96, THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO DO THAT.

SOMETIMES YOU BUILD BRIDGES AND TUNNELS, BUT THAT'S $3 MILLION JUST TO GET A FEW HUNDRED FEET.

SO IT'S A CHALLENGE.

THAT'S THE THING.

IN SOME WAYS THE EASY THINGS ARE DONE BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE THE TRAIL CONVERSION, BUT THERE ARE SOME ARRESTED THINGS TO DO, SOME OF THOSE WILL BE EXTENSIVE FOR SHORT DISTANCES BUT ARE WORTH IT BECAUSE IT MAKES IT MORE USEABLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE PANDEMIC.

HAS IT CAUSED US TO GET OUT AND USE OUR TRAILS AND PARKS MORE?

>> IT HAS.

WE'VE SEEN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE FLOCK TOGETHER OUTDOORS AND TO OUR PARKS AND TRAILS OVER THE PAST YEAR BECAUSE MOVIE THEATERS ARE CLOSED DOWN, AND RESTAURANT ARE CLOSED DOWN, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY WERE ACTIVE IN THE OUTDOORS WHO SPENT MAYBE MORE TIME OUTSIDE.

BUT WE SAW TONS OF NEW PEOPLE GOING TO PARKS THEY HAD NEVER BEEN TO AND UTILIZING TRAILS THEY NEVER HAD.

SO THAT PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THOSE HEALTH BENEFITS--BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL.

ALL OF THE STUDIES POINT TO HOW MUCH BETTER YOUR TIME CAN BE BY SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS, JUST IMMERSING YOURSELF JUST TEN MINUTES IN THE OUTDOORS CAN HAVE A GREAT EFFECT ON YOUR ANXIETY LEVELS THAN THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HELP WITH MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT, AND CAN REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCY ON INSULIN FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES.

PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT, AND I HOPE WE CAN KEEP THOSE FOLKS ENGAGED IN THE OUTDOORS AS WE'RE ABLE TO GO BACK OUT INTO THE INDOOR WORLD.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE OUTDOORS AND HOW MUCH IT CAN MEAN TO YOUR LIFE.

>> WONDERFUL.

ALL RIGHT, MELISSA, I NEED TO TAKE MY BLACK BEAUTY OUT FOR A RIDE.

HOW DO I KNOW WHERE THE START TRAIL--WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN.

>> SO THE WEST MICHIGAN MOUNTAIN BIKE ALLIANCE, AND MICHIGAN EDGE MOUNTAIN BIKING ASSOCIATION, BOTH ON THEIR WEBSITES HAVE A LISTING OF TRAILS.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A GREAT APP CALLED TRAIL FORKS, WHERE ALL THE TRAILS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE THEIR TRAILS LISTED ON THERE.

AND YOU CAN GO IN THERE, AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN LOOK AT TRAIL CONDITIONS.

ARE THEY EVEN OPEN.

MOST OF OUR TRAILS IN WEST MICHIGAN ARE DEPENDENT ON GOOD WEATHER.

WE.

WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RIDING WHEN THEY'RE OPEN AND BE RESPECTFUL THAT WAY.

YOU CAN FIND TRAIL CONDITIONS AND WHAT THE LEVEL OF THOSE TRAILS ARE.

IS IT A TRAIL THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR KIDS AND HAVE A FUN AND SAFE TIME OR IS IT A TRAIL THAT'S MORE TECHNICAL THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT APP WILL ALLOW YOU TO FIND WHAT TYPE OF TRAIL IT IS, AND EVEN DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO GET THERE.

THAT'S A GREAT RESOURCE.

THERE IS A GREAT GROUP ON FACEBOOK THAT ANYONE CAN JOIN THAT IS CALLED WEST MICHIGAN TRAIL CONDITIONS THAT GIVES AN UPDATE OF WHAT TRAILS ARE GREAT TO RIDE IN WHAT SEASON.

>> AND OF COURSE WE'RE A FOUR SEASON STATE.

WE'RE RIDING YOUR CYCLES ALL FOUR SEASONS.

>> YES, MANY OF OUR TRAILS ARE GROOMED IN THE WINTER FOR THAT TIRE BIKE RIDING.

>> THANK YOU.

ON THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GET OUT IN NATURE AND HELP A TRAIL, WHAT'S THE ACTION ITEM HERE?

>> GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL.ORG , AND YOU CAN FIND WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OUR LOCAL CHAPTERS OR YOU CAN CONTACT OUR STAFF DIRECTLY.

WE HAVE A NEW VOLUNTEER FORM TO FILL OUT AND WE CAN FILTER YOU DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE YOU LOOK FOR VOLUNTEERING.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO UTILIZE THE MARKETING SKILLS, AND DO TRAIL WORK.

WE HAVE A TONS OF DIFFERENT STUFF AVAILABLE.

WE DEFINITELY DEPEND ON VOLUNTEERS TO KEEP OUR TRAILS OPEN AND SAFE AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.

>> AARON, PUT YOUR PARK CAP ON AS WELL.

DO WE DIVIDE TRAILS VERSUS PARKS?

SOME TRAILS GO RIGHT THROUGH OUR PARKS.

INVITE ME TO A PARK.

>> YES, THAT'S WHERE THE--THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

SOME--ONE OF THE THINGS AND SOME THINGS BASED ON THE TRANSPORTATION FUNCTIONALITY OF TRAILS.

SOME PEOPLE--AND THAT'S A THING NOT TO FORGET, WHILE TRAILS ARE GREAT FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND GREAT FOR JUST GETTING OUT AND ENJOYING NATURE, THEY'RE ALSO ACTUALLY PEOPLE RELYING ON THEM ON A DAILY BASIS TO GET TO WORK.

TO GET TO STORES.

SO THEY'RE CRITICAL IN THAT FUNCTION.

THAT'S ONE DINNERS IN A PARK.

AND TRAILS THAT GO THROUGH PARKS ARE NOT TRANSPORTATION BUT THEY CAN BE IN SOME CASES.

WE HAVE A GREAT TRAIL AND PARK THAT IS A NICE LINK IT "S" IN IS UPPER AREA.

AND THERE IS A PAVED ROUTE THAT GOES FROM ONE END OF THE PARK TO THE OTHER, AND IT HAS SOME LINING FEATURES AND BOARD WALKS, AND PARTS OF IT GO ALONG THE RIVER.

THAT'S A GREAT ROUTE.

AND IN GENERAL, THE GREEN WAY TRAIL IS--THERE IS A ONE POINT WHERE IT GOES ON SOME SIDEWALKS, THAT IS PRETTY NEAT.

THE--I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND GRAND RAVINE, WHICH HAS A PAVED LOOP AROUND THE RAVINES AND CLUES CLUE ININCLUDES TRAILS THAT ARE DOWN HILL AND UPHILL AND HAS A SCENIC LODGE.

THERE IS A TRAIL IN A CLOSE SPOT.

IF YOU START AT OUR TRIAL IN GRAND HAVEN, ROBERTSON TOWNSHIP, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A LOOP AROUND GRAND HAVEN.

BUT IT'S NOT THERE YET, AND YOU CAN GO ACROSS THE NEW M 21 BRIDGE.

AND IT HAS VIEWS OF SOME OF THE RARE ECO-SYSTEMS LIKE BRUCE BEAU BEAU--BAYOU.

AND THE TRAIL HAS SECTIONS OF THE GOLF COURSE AND THAT'S NEAT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, THERE ARE A SERIES OF BOARD WALKS THAT GO THROUGH THE RAVINES.

THEN YOU CAN GO BACK IN TO THE NORTH BANK TRAIL INTO SPRING LAKE.

AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY RIGHT INTO THE VILLAGE OF SPRING LAKE, SO YOU CAN GET VILLAGE BAKER PIZZA ALL THE AMENITIES THERE, AND GO ON TO GRAND HAVEN BEACH AND DOWNTOWN BY BIKE OR NORTH BEACH PARK, WHICH HAS GREAT BEACH, GREAT VIEWS, AND TWO OTHERS PARKS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THAT TRAIL, THE OTTAWA SANDS PARK.

WHICH IS GREAT HIKING TRAIL.

>> NICE.

AARON, WHAT IS A RESOURCE.

>> WELL, ONE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ANYONE LOOKING AT TRAILS IN GENERAL I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION.

MI TRAILS.ORG , WHICH IS MICHIGAN TRAILS MAGAZINE.

PEOPLE LOVE THAT MAGAZINE.

AND THAT IS DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION.

MI MY OTTAWA PARKS.

YOU CAN FIND PARKS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

>> WHAT DO YOU LEAVE WITH US, ANDREA?

>> NORTH COUNTRY TRAILS.ORG .

AND YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO VOLUNTEER THERE, BUT ALSO WE HAVE A WONDERFUL ONLINE MAP THAT YOU CAN ZOOM AROUND AND FIND TRAIL HEADS AND PLACES TO HIKE.

AND THEN WE HAVE ALL OF OUR MAPS FOR THE ENTIRE TRAIL DOWNLOADABLE, AND FREE AS WELL AS GPS INFORMATION IF YOU PREFER TO PUT THAT IN INTO YOUR OWN GP S S AND A HALF GATE BY THAT--IF YOU WANT TO NAVIGATE BY THAT OR BY YOUR PHONE.

>> WHERE CAN YOU HIKE TONIGHT.

>> YOU CAN GO UP TO LOWELL UP TO THE COUNTY PARK.

IT'S A GREAT SEVEN MILE SECTION THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND CLOSE TO GRAND RAPIDS.

>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

ALL RIGHT, MELISSA, TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND JUMPING ON A BIKE AND ENJOYING THE TRAILS THIS WAY.

>> WELL, SO GREAT RESOURCES ARE LMB.ORG .

THAT'S A GREAT RESOURCE STATEWIDE FOR ANYONE WHO RIDES A BICYCLE FOR APE REASON.

YOU CAN GET BIKE SAFETY INFORMATION.

THERE IS A GREAT PAGE ON THERE ABOUT DRIVING, AND BEING AWARE OF CYCLISTS AND SAFETY ON THE ROAD.

BOTH FOR DRIVERS AND CYCLISTS.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT.

WMMBA.ORG IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR BICYCLE TRAILS IN WENT COUNTY.

AND THEN OTTAWA COUNTY MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS.

DO YOU NAME YOUR BIKES, MELISSA?

>> OH, YES.

>> WHICH BIKE GETS THE NEXT RIDE RIDE.

>> IT'S HEAVILY MY MOUNTAIN BIKE, WHO IS BILLY THE GOAT, HE LIKES TO CLIMB.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS CONVERSATION ON TRAILS.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IF YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A COMMUNITY CONNECTION SEGMENT OR IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO OUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR, E-MAIL YOUR