News & Stories
Crossing Rivers, Building Bridges: Kalkaska’s Trail Town Revival
Photo credit: Kalkaska Downtoan Development Authority
Image description: People hold a blue ribbon during an outdoor ribbon-cutting ceremony, with children watching from a bench in a wooded park setting.
In 2015, the Kalkaska Downtown Development Authority (DDA) made an interesting discovery—the Village of Kalkaska was one of the few North Country National Scenic Trail Trail Town in Northern Michigan. With such a unique designation, the Kalkaska DDA recognized that emphasizing the trail could help encourage economic development in its community, but some big changes had to occur first.
“Most Trail Towns actually have the trail going through their downtown district, and this trail just didn’t,” said Gayenell Gentelia, Kalkaska DDA Associate Director. “The trail wasn’t being utilized for anything other than to go outside of town and stay outside of town—we had to figure out how to reroute the trail.”
With community input and support, the Kalkaska DDA connected with the Grand Traverse Hiking Club, now known as the Grand Traverse Chapter of the North Country Trail Association, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to create a trail consortium—the Kalkaska Trail Town Partners—with groups, associations, and organizations who use the extensive trail system in Kalkaska County. Together, they needed to reroute nine miles of the trail, create a new trailhead, and design a means of crossing the Boardman/Ottaway River.
“We brought together a team of agencies with one goal—to enhance the trails in Kalkaska County and make them better and more accessible for the community,” added Gayenell.
By working together, the consortium applied for numerous grants wherever they could around the region, with the Community Foundation being one of the funding organizations they approached. In 2024, the Kalkaska DDA received a Community Funds grant that enabled them to close the gap on the $550,000 cost of the new trailhead to make their nearly decade-long dream and vision a reality.
“Without these funds, rural communities like us would not be able to do these types of projects,” said Gayenell. “The Community Foundation truly focuses on small communities and how to help them thrive. In order for us to make our communities better and more accessible, foundations like this are key.”
Writer: Alex Dailey