FRED MEIJER WHITE PINE TRAIL STATE PARK

House Bill 6110 as passed by the House

Sponsor:  Rep. Dave Hildenbrand

Committee:  Government Operations

Complete to 6-12-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6110 AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE 6-8-06

The bill would amend Part 741 (State Park System) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (MCL 324.74126) to name the state-owned land containing the White Pine Trail, the Fred Meijer While Pine Trail State Park. 

Additionally, the bill would require the Department of Natural Resources to facilitate the development of a recreational trail corridor – to be known as the Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail – that traverses an abandoned rail corridor between North Muskegon and Whitehall in Muskegon County. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

            The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or local governmental units. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Natural Resources Trust Fund Board Policy for Site Names

The NRTF Policy 92.3 on site names states, "[t]he Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board will not assist in any acquisition or development project where the site will be named in honor of a person either living or deceased.  Funding recipients may ask the MNRTF Board for a waiver to this policy when they propose to name the site after an individual or organization that has made a significant financial contribution (including donation of land value) toward completion of the MNRTF project." 

The board's procedures also say that funding recipients may request a waiver of this policy after the board has recommended a grant, but before the project has been completed.  The funding recipient must demonstrate that the person or organization for which the property is to be named will make a significant financial contribution (including land) toward completion of the project.  In most situations, the board will only consider financial contributions that are at least equal to the MNRTF contribution to be "significant."  Waiver requests for lesser amounts must include special circumstances and a compelling rationale for the waiver to be considered.  The policy does not prohibit the naming of facilities (such a picnic areas and pavilions) located within MNRTF-assisted areas, nor does it prevent funding recipients from including language on entrance signs acknowledging the contributions of individuals or organizations. 

Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail

The proposed 10-mile trail would connect the Hart-Montague Trail to the north with trails within the City of Muskegon to the south.   The proposed trail is a project of the West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition, whose website includes the map below. 

 

The White Pine Trail State Park

The White Pine Trail is a linear trail state park stretching 92-miles from Comstock Park, just north of Grand Rapids, to Cadillac along the abandoned Penn Central Railroad right-of-way.  The park is one of four linear state parks from converted abandoned rail corridors.  The others are the Kal-Haven Trail, the Hart-Montague Trail, and the Lakelands Trail.  See the map of the park taken from the website of the Friends of the White Pine Trail on the next page.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Mark Wolf

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Kirk Lindquist

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.