Negaunee Township trails illuminated

NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP — A section of hiking and cross country skiing trails in Negaunee Township is now illuminated for evening recreational use.


A ribbon cutting ceremony was held earlier this evening to show-off the 20 utility poles equipped with LED lighting that line a mile of trails near the township’s community center on M-35.
This project was made possible with the help of a $5,000 grant from the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission. Negaunee Township Planner Nick Leach said the Northern Michigan University’s Linemen Association was instrumental in the project.

“They are some of the first trails in the county to get snow,” Leach said. “Usually, we get groups of people from all over the county knocking on our door, waiting for the trails to open up, but with where we live, it gets dark so early and they’re difficult to use. With this lighting project, now they can be used.”

Leach said the eventual hope is to illuminate all 6 miles of trails. The trails will be lit between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and from about 5:30 p.m. to midnight.