JACKSON COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Jackson County is set to enhance the “walkability and connectivity” of its trail system with the expansion of the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail. This project follows a unanimous decision by the General Government Committee and a $2.9 million funding commitment from the Jackson County Parks department, according to MLive.

The Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park—a 34-mile stretch between Hamburg Township in Livingston County and Blackman Township in Jackson County—has been a vital segment of the 275-mile Great Lake-to-Lake Trail since its opening in 1994. 

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Named in June 2018 in honor of local philanthropist Mike Levine, the trail is one of five linear state parks in Michigan that were converted from abandoned railroad corridors. This transformation has created a versatile space catering to bicyclists, cross-country skiers, hikers, horseback riders, runners and walkers. Additionally, the trail’s connection to the Pinckney Recreation Area equestrian trails adds 13 miles for horseback riders.

One of the trail’s noteworthy features is its integration of historical and cultural education. The DNR Heritage Trail Program, leveraging a grant from Levine, began installing interpretive signs along the trail in 2018. These signs, created with input from Eastern Michigan University’s Historic Preservation Program and community members, tell the stories of the region’s natural and cultural history. 

Visitors can learn about the Pottawatomi people, the area’s resort history, and the impact of the railroad era in the 1880s. Historical figures like artist Baltasar Martinez and novelist Mary Clavers, as well as landmarks like the Edwin S. George Preserve and the Jackson prison, are highlighted.