The Friends’ group was formed by an initiative of the Clinton Area Planning for Intergovernmental Teamwork (CAPIT) in the spring of 1999 to research the possibility of turning the Central Michigan Railroad corridor, unused since 1992, into a recreational trail.
Originally known as the Friends of the Ionia to Owosso Trail, the name was soon changed to the Friends of the Clinton—Ionia—Shiawassee Trail to reflect the regional perspective of the proposed project.
Our trail efforts received a boost in 2005 when Fred Meijer and the Fred Meijer Foundation offered to donate over a million dollars for the development and maintenance of the trail. In return, the Foundation asked that the trail be named in Mr. Meijer’s honor. Consequently, the Friends’ Group Board of Directors approved re-naming the group as the Friends of the Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee (FMCIS) Trail in 2006.
The Friends’ group had been meeting on an annual basis, but in March 7, 2006, a formal board was elected, with three representatives from each county, and a monthly meeting schedule was set which rotated between the three counties.
By the summer/fall of 2006, all three counties had passed and signed resolutions supporting the trail. A tri-county intergovernmental board was established in an effort to coordinate governing policies between the three counties. This board was charged with developing an inter-local agreement. Currently, a representative of the tri-county intergovernmental board also serves as an ex officio on the board of the Friends of the FMCIS Trail.
The 41.3 mile corridor was purchased by MDOT in August of 2007. Through an agreement between MDOT and MDNRE, management of the trail was turned over to MDNRE.
Throughout this time, the Friends’ group has made a concerted effort to keep the trail dream alive. Through community outreach (parades, fairs, symposiums, etc.), brochures, newsletters, clean ups and various other methods, we have continuously strived to make this trail a reality.
We have worked to gain the confidence of all the communities along the trail and have helped them find answers to their questions and concerns and also to understand the positive impact that this trail -- for non-motorized recreational activities such as bicycling, hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding on a separate parallel trail, and rollerblading -- will have on their community. We have also sought to form partnerships with all governments adjacent to the proposed trail in order to ensure that their voices are heard and that their concerns are addressed in the planning process.
Through this participatory process, the end product will be a well-designed and well-managed trail that residents will be proud to call their own.
We welcome you to visit our trail when it is developed and contribute to our efforts by volunteering your valuable resources.