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Metroparks Kudos and Concerns:
Park connector saved, natural river area threatened
Earlier this summer, the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority (HCMA,
owner of Kensington Metropark, Hudson Mills Metropark, Dexter-Huron Metropark and
Delhi Metropark, among many others) made plans to sell to a developer the 180-acre connector between Proud Lake Recreation
Area and Kensington Metropark.
With the public outcry that followed, HCMA quickly realized that they had gone off
the deep end, and they stopped the project, agreeing to continue maintaining this valuable natural corridor.
Unfortunately, HCMA has not yet recognized the error of its ways with its plan to build a pedestrian bridge
across the Huron River in a section of the river that is designated a
Natural River by the State of Michigan. The Huron Valley Group
position, which urges the HCMA to protect the river and not build a new bridge for the Hudson Mills
trail, is outlined in the letter below, sent to the HCMA Commissioners.
Sierra Club Huron Valley Group, Michigan Chapter
2330 Adare
Ann Arbor, Michigan
6 February 2004
Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
13000 High Ridge Dr.
Brighton, MI 48116-8001
The Sierra Club has a long and respected history in outdoor recreation and environmental conservation. The Huron
Valley Group, representing approximately 3200 members, has demonstrated a continuing interest in the management of
the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority. Through our outings, our volunteer work, and our efforts on behalf of
the natural areas of the parks, we have long had an appreciation of the value of these parks as community resources.
The Huron Valley Group commends the Authority for providing outdoor recreational opportunities in a consistently
attractive setting. The efforts of the staff on behalf of the visitors to the 13 parks are universally recognized as
second to none.
The quality and popularity of the paved hike/bike trails is undeniable but the Hudson Mills trail expansion
presents a risk to the balance between enjoyment and protection. “To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places
of the earth” can create conflict between exploring, enjoying and protecting. The proposed expansion of the Hudson
Mills hike/bike trail will significantly expand opportunities to explore and enjoy the Huron River corridor south
of North Territorial. However, it will weaken the protection offered to some of the special places in the
corridor.
This section of the Huron River is designated a Natural River by the State of Michigan and is given special
protections. The Huron Valley Group of Sierra Club recommends that the HCMA remove the bridge crossing from its
trail expansion plans. The bridge is not essential to the function of the trail but would be a major loss of
protection to a very special stretch of Huron River. Huron Valley Group volunteers have studied the plan at
length, collaborated with other stakeholders and discussed the issues at a variety of forums within the Group.
Through this process we find that the best balance between exploration, enjoyment and protection supports the
trail expansion but not the bridge.
Sincerely,
Parma Yarkin
Secretary, Huron Valley Group, Sierra Club
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