37 miles of smooth pavement

Thu, Jul  21, 2011 - By Mike Muha

The final 11-mile stretch of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, running from Farwell to Reed City, recently has been resurfaced and will be the focus of a community celebration at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at the City of Evart Depot. This pavement is normally used by bikers, inline skaters and walkers, but the occasional rollerskier has been know to ski here as well.

The Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the City of Evart, will host the celebration, which will start at the Depot and then move a quarter-mile east to the location where the new surface has been installed. State and city officials will be joined at the event by State Representatives Phil Potvin and Joel Johnson, and former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson.

The DNR resurfaced the trail with a snowmobile-friendly asphalt mix. With these surface improvements, the rail trail is now a smooth, continuous 37-mile ribbon of asphalt from Farwell in Clare County to Reed City is Osceola County.

Area residents and visitors are invited to bring their bicycles or wear appropriate walking shoes to the celebration. Cake and refreshments will be served.