NTN to remove XC ski trail lights

The Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN) has been unable to raise money to continue lighting a cross country ski trail at the Forestville trailhead in Marquette, Michigan. The cost to continue the lighted loop is about $10,000 and about $1,000 a year in increased taxes because the land must be taken out of Commercial Forest Reserve (CFR) status and surveyed. (The Commercial Forest Reserve program provides a property tax reduction to private landowners as an incentive to retain and manage forestland for long-term timber production.)

The NTN hoped an angel donor might provide $5,000, but no donar came forward. NTN plans to proceed with the removal of the existing lights this fall.