Adopt A Trail Section Program

 

Friends Of The Border To Border Trail “Adopt A Trail Section” volunteers help keep the Trail fully functional by being the “eyes” of a Trail section to report problems, but also perform minor maintenance duties. 

 

Border To Border Trail – “Adopt A Trail Section” Units

Below are adoptable sections of the Trail starting at the far eastern portion of Washtenaw County and going west. Please note that sections of the Trail, especially in the City of Ypsilanti and Dexter, are “on-road” and not listed for “adoption’ at the present time. Sections below, unless otherwise noted, are open for adoption. Click on the links on each section to bring up a map of that section.  

 

• Adopted - Grove Road (Ypsilanti Township) - Bridge Road west to Harris Road/Loonfeather Park

 

• Adopted - Grove Road (Ypsilanti Township) – Harris Road/Loonfeather Park west to Grove Road I-94 bridge

 

• Adopted - Grove Road (City of Ypsilanti) – Grove Road I-94 bridge to Michigan Avenue

 

• Adopted - Eastern Michigan University – Cornell Street west/north to Huron River Drive/Clark Road

 

• Adopted - St. Joseph Mercy Hospital/Washtenaw Community College area 

 

• Adopted - Dixboro Bridge area

 

• Adopted - Gallup Park East (Ann Arbor) – Dixboro dam west to Geddes Park bridge

 

• Adopted - Gallup Park West (Ann Arbor) – Geddes Park bridge west to Fuller Road/Maiden Lane

 

• Adopted - Ann Arbor – Corner of Fuller Road/Maiden Lane west to Whitmore Lake Road (just beyond M14 bridge)

 

• Adopted - Dexter-Huron Metropark

 

• Adopted - Dexter Mill Creek Park to north end of Hudson Mills Metropark

 

To volunteer to adopt a Trail section, contact Bob Krzewinski at wolverbob@gmail.com

 

 

 

Adopt A Trail Section Volunteer Guidelines

 

Adopt A Trail Section Duties

Requested duties include…

 

• Pick up trash (although for the most part, the B to B stays remarkably trash-free).

 

• Report serious problems (potholes, major downed branches, missing direction signs, etc.).

 

• During the “green”  warmer months, trim back (with hand-tools) vegetation tending to obstruct the trail.

 

Frequency

It is requested that volunteers patrol their Trail section 2-4 times a month. 

 

Volunteer Commitment

Adopt A Trail Section volunteers are requested to volunteer until the end of a calendar year (December 31). During the month of January we will audit the volunteer list and contact you about serving for another calendar year. 

 

Reporting More Serious Problems

If volunteers come across more serious problems, such as trees down across the Trail, potholes, vandalism, or missing Trail signage, please call Bob Krzewinski at 734-387-9058 (home) or 734-218-3307 (cell). He can also be contacted at wolverbob@gmail.com. Please be as specific as possible where the Trail problem is, as different Trail sections are administered by different contacts. 

 

Winter Reports

While it is a continuing campaign by the Friends of the Border To Border Trail to keep the Trail open (i.e. plowed) between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, long-term agreements between property managers has been problematic. The City of Ann Arbor, however, has been good about clearing their sections of Trail within a reasonable amount of time after a major snowfall. Trail volunteers then with Ann Arbor adopted Trail sections are requested to turn in reports to the Friends if an Ann Arbor Trail section is not cleared within 3-4 days of a significant snowfall. 

 

Helpful Hints

 

• Trail work by bicycle – This is perhaps the fastest way to do volunteer Trail work. If using a bike, consider bringing along (in a bicycle bag or pannier) water, bug spray and a cell phone. 

 

• Trimming vegetation – The summer months often causes vegetation to hang over sections of the Trail that requires trimming a couple times over the summer. It is suggested that all trimming work be performed with a mechanical (not electric or gas) hedge trimmer. Also, garden gloves are suggested as some vegetation (i.e. buckthorn) can have thorny branches). Also, to dispose of cut vegetation, please move this to an adjacent vegetation area.

 

• Interacting with the public – When doing Trail work, interaction with the public is appreciated as many people are on the path but not aware of the Border To Border Trail. Consider telling them to consult the Friends webpage, www.bordertoborder.org for more information. 

 

• Law enforcement interaction – While it has not happened yet, if doing Trail work and law enforcement questions your activities, simply tell them that you are with the Friends Of The Border To Border Trail performing volunteer Trail work, and the Friends works with the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission (the controlling government agency of the Trail).