During the week of September 20 – 27, the Southfield City Centre Trail is the ideal venue for the Michigan Trails Week Challenge, a statewide event that encourages trail users to walk, hike, run and cycle on thousands of miles of trails throughout Michigan.
Participants can register, then hit the trail on foot or bicycle and log miles on the Michigan Trails Week Challenge website to earn badges and be entered in a drawing to win outdoor gear and Michigan-branded prizes. The event is free.
Joined by thousands of miles of local, county and federally managed trails and pathways, the Southfield City Centre Trail’s accessibility makes it a convenient place to log miles during the Michigan Trails Week Challenge.
“We always encourage people to seek out nature that is nearby and remind everyone that we can all recreate in our own backyard,” says Andrea LaFontaine, executive director of the Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance, which has partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to sponsor the challenge. “During COVID-19, we have found that people are staying close to home and still discovering new places. We like the idea that people can include Southfield into the local trail system in southeast Michigan.”
A significant segment of the Southfield City Centre Trail system was finished this fall, marking completion of a 2.75-mile stretch of the main greenway segment, which links into a full 7.75-mile trail system in the City Centre district. The trail system has transformed a largely vehicle-centric corridor into a safe and welcoming place for nonmotorized traffic.
“By completing this portion of the trail, we have reached a milestone of our own and we are excited to encourage participants of the Michigan Trails Week Challenge to explore the trail and find out what the district has to offer,” says Terry Croad, director of planning with the City of Southfield. Strategically placed benches, bike repair stations, public art installations — including iconic Red Pole Park — and numerous wayfinding amenities welcome pedestrians and cyclists to the trail.
“The challenge is a fun way for City Centre residents and people working at businesses in City Centre to get out and enjoy some beautiful fall weather, get to know the district, and walk the newest portions of the trail along the Lawrence Tech University corridor of Northwestern Highway,” says Croad. “Students who have just returned to LTU, as well as faculty and staff, will especially enjoy taking part in this challenge event.”
Learn more about the Michigan Trails Week Challenge at www.michigan.org/event/michigan-trails-week-challenge. Learn more about the Southfield City Centre and download a trail map at www.southfieldcitycentre.com.
