Frederik Meijer Trail
Encyclopedia
The Frederik Meijer Trail, formerly called the M-6 Trail, is a hiking/biking trail in Kent County
, Michigan. It connects the Paul Henry Rail Trail
with the Kent Trails
in Byron Township, Michigan
.
. The trail runs along the north side of the M-6
freeway to Clyde Park Avenue. The trail follows Clyde Park south to 68th Street where it terminates. Bikers can continue along 68th Street over the US Highway 131
(US 131) freeway to Division Street and north along Division to the trail on the south side of M-6. The trail continues east to Eastern Avenue where it crosses back over to the north side of the freeway. The eastern end is at Wing Avenue and 60th Street in Kentwood
.
with the Paul Henry Rail Trail. The M-6 Trail was the brainchild of Gaines Township
Supervisor Don Hilton, Sr. He had pushed to have the path included in the original freeway construction and opened with the rest of the South Beltline. The trail project was funded by $2.9 million dollars in federal grants and $300,000 from the Frederik and Lena Meijer Foundation
. The balance came from Kent County and the townships.
Work on the first phase was completed in June 2008. This segment connected the Kent Trail with 68th Street in Byron Township
. Work on the second phase of the trail between Division Avenue and 60th Street was completed in November 2008. The remaining segment of the trail is a third phase for a dedicated trail along 68th Street and Clay Avenue to bridge the gap between Clyde Park and Division avenues remains incomplete. This 1.5 miles (2.4 km) segment was projected to cost between $750,000 and $1.5 million in 2008. One challenge to the segment is crossing an active Norfolk Southern
rail line near US 131 and M-6.
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
, Michigan. It connects the Paul Henry Rail Trail
Paul Henry Rail Trail
The Paul Henry Rail Trail is a rail trail in Kentwood, Michigan. Originally running from 44th Street and Kalamazoo in a southeasterly direction to 60th street, the trail now connects with both the Thornapple Trail and Kent Trails. It has a wide paved surface. It is part of the North Country...
with the Kent Trails
Kent Trails
Kent Trails is a fifteen mile rail trail in Kent County, Michigan that runs through the cities of Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker, Wyoming and Byron Townshipand is part of a network of trails in and around Grand Rapids...
in Byron Township, Michigan
Byron Township, Michigan
Byron Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 17,553.- Communities :...
.
Trail description
The trail starts at a junction with the Kent Trails west of Byron Center Avenue in WyomingWyoming, Michigan
Wyoming is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 72,125. That makes it the 2nd largest community or city in West Michigan, the 14th largest city in the state of Michigan, and the 18th largest community in the state as well...
. The trail runs along the north side of the M-6
M-6 (Michigan highway)
M-6, or the Paul B. Henry Freeway, is a freeway and state trunkline highway in the United States that serves portions of southern Kent and eastern Ottawa counties south of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although the freeway is named for Paul B. Henry, local residents and the press continue to use the...
freeway to Clyde Park Avenue. The trail follows Clyde Park south to 68th Street where it terminates. Bikers can continue along 68th Street over the US Highway 131
U.S. Route 131
US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...
(US 131) freeway to Division Street and north along Division to the trail on the south side of M-6. The trail continues east to Eastern Avenue where it crosses back over to the north side of the freeway. The eastern end is at Wing Avenue and 60th Street in Kentwood
Kentwood, Michigan
Kentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
.
History
The M-6 Trail was constructed in a $3.5 million project that started in 2008. The goal was to create a 10 feet (3 m) wide path linking the Kent TrailsKent Trails
Kent Trails is a fifteen mile rail trail in Kent County, Michigan that runs through the cities of Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker, Wyoming and Byron Townshipand is part of a network of trails in and around Grand Rapids...
with the Paul Henry Rail Trail. The M-6 Trail was the brainchild of Gaines Township
Gaines Township, Kent County, Michigan
Gaines Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,112 at the 2000 census.The township is about 13 miles south of downtown Grand Rapids. It is directly south of the city of Kentwood. The Charter Township of Caledonia and Village of...
Supervisor Don Hilton, Sr. He had pushed to have the path included in the original freeway construction and opened with the rest of the South Beltline. The trail project was funded by $2.9 million dollars in federal grants and $300,000 from the Frederik and Lena Meijer Foundation
Fred Meijer (businessman)
Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer was the Chairman of the Meijer hypermarket chain in Michigan, United States.-Biography:...
. The balance came from Kent County and the townships.
Work on the first phase was completed in June 2008. This segment connected the Kent Trail with 68th Street in Byron Township
Byron Township, Michigan
Byron Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 17,553.- Communities :...
. Work on the second phase of the trail between Division Avenue and 60th Street was completed in November 2008. The remaining segment of the trail is a third phase for a dedicated trail along 68th Street and Clay Avenue to bridge the gap between Clyde Park and Division avenues remains incomplete. This 1.5 miles (2.4 km) segment was projected to cost between $750,000 and $1.5 million in 2008. One challenge to the segment is crossing an active Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
rail line near US 131 and M-6.