Construction bid documents are released and a contractor is selected, Traction Trailworx, of Madison, Wisc. Trail construction slated to begin late May.

Final bid documents are released in February with bids anticipated by the 15th. Logging begins to clear the trail route in anticipation of construction summer 2024.

The DNR approved final permit drawings and related application necessities. A major milestone achieved!

In June, a representative from EGLE (Energy, Great Lakes, and Environment) walked and reviewed the wetland delineation and gave the go ahead to construct the trail. Soil samples were taken along the trail and no sign of wetlands were found.

In July, Carmeuse Lime & Stone agreed to a generous donation of 600 tons of fine stone for the trails. The stone helps provide a firm substrate and better AD access to the trails.

Site reviews: A busy time!

Construction, possible alterations, or modifications reviewed, with various walk-throughs, and a final review.

Project on hold until EGLE can complete wetlands assessment.

Project on hold until EGLE can complete wetlands assessment.

Modify plans and final flagging. Project agreement signed with DNR. Clark Township accept agreement via resolution.

Design is further refined and submitted to DNR. DNR presents the Township with its Project Agreement, which lays out in detail what the Trust Fund grant money will pay for, what the trail will include, and the timeline for completion.

First flagging of the trail — this is a first walk of the trail site. Committee members and DNR use this to begin to shape the route, identify potential concerns, and see where DNR log cutting may take place. DNR Trail staff will join.

This is followed by preliminary design drawing, site review with committee, site review with DNR forestry.

Using the information from the first trail walk, design for the trail is put on paper. This initial design will be reviewed, edited, and possibly the trail walked again.

Clark Township’s grant proposal receives recommendation for funding by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund committee.

This is a big step that essentially commits funding to projects around the state. Funding is not yet allocated though — the Michigan Legislature will vote sometime in 2022 to fund projects.

The Peek-A-Boo Trials committee has been working to move the project forward by finalizing maps, working through agreements with the DNR, and working with a professional project coordinator, Bill Sanders of Sanders and Czapski.

The grant is finalized and submitted to the Michigan DNR for consideration in the next round of Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) projects.

Initial grant is submitted to the Michigan DNR for grading. We wait until the fall to receive feedback on how to improve our project proposal.