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Cynthia Todd, Spicer Group, Inc., director of planning, parks and recreation, points where signatures are needed from Janet Andersen, Mason County Board of Commissioners chair, and Jesse Petersen of Petersen and Sons, LLC on the contract between the county and Petersen and Sons, for construction of 1.1. mile of paved, n on-motorized, multi-use trail from west side of Mason County Campground along Chauvez Road to the Consumers Energy’s Lake Michigan overlook at the south end of the Mason County Picnic and Day Use Area Monday. Submitted photo.
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Construction preparations begin this week on a 1.1-mile paved, all-access, nonmotorized multiuse trail linking Mason County Campground through Mason County Picnic Area to the Consumers Energy Lake Michigan overlook area.
Contracts between local contractor Petersen & Sons LLC of Riverton Township and Mason County were signed Monday by Janet Andersen, chair of the Mason County Board of Commissioners, and Jesse Petersen of Petersen & Sons for the Mason County Parks and Recreation Commission project.
Petersen indicated work would begin immediately, with plans for substantial completion before winter.
The $1.1 million project is funded in part by a $400,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant awarded to Mason County. Spicer Group Inc. is providing engineering and construction oversight.
The Mason County Parks and Recreation Commission has a long-term lease with landowner Consumers Energy to operate the campground and park on the Chauvez Road property in Pere Marquette Charter Township, adjacent to the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant. Consumers Energy representatives also attended Monday afternoon’s contract signing, which enables construction to begin.
“The County Board appreciates all the efforts of the Parks and Recreation Commission that have gone into making this first mile of trail a reality. This is truly a project that is about partnerships,” Andersen stated.
“The Parks and Recreation Commission is excited construction is beginning on this trail,” Steve Begnoche, Mason County Parks and Recreation Commission chair, stated. “Once completed, we hope the trail will provide another option for safe biking and walking in Mason County and be an incentive for residents to renew their acquaintance with the county-operated park.”
Work will begin on the north section of the trail, from what will be a trailhead north of Chauvez Road, west of the Mason County Campground entrance, to the entrance of the picnic area, according to the construction plan Petersen presented. Once that section is built, work in the picnic area would follow, likely after Labor Day.
Because the trail work requires excavation, the existing walking path north of Chauvez Road will be closed to public use until further notice.
Mason County Campground, 5906 W. Chauvez Road, has 56 sites, many with full hookups and all with electricity, water, a picnic table, grill and Wi-Fi access. Camper cabins, the 18-hole Tinderbox disc golf course, a bathhouse, pavilion and playground are other amenities in the wooded area.
Mason County Picnic Area, 5906 W. Chauvez Road, is home to the Mason County Disc Golf Association’s three highly acclaimed courses, a pavilion and playground, as well as access to the Consumers Energy Lake Michigan and Ludington Pumped Storage overlooks.
Twisted Sticks RC Club operates Hull Field along the trail between the two locations.
The trail is included as part of a broad plan for a cross-county multiuse trail network envisioned and being developed by a task force of interested citizens and community representatives led by Kristi Lucas-Zimmerman, economic development director with the Chamber Alliance of Mason County, assisted by a leadership committee and consultant Norm Cox of The Greenway Collaborative.
More information about the Mason County Parks and Recreation Commission and campground, including how to make a reservation, can be found at masoncountymi.gov.
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