The Department of Natural Resources announced today that a dedication ceremony for the North Central State Trail (formerly the Gaylord to Mackinaw rail-trail) is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 7, which is National Trails Day. Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC) is sponsoring the event and partnering with the DNR, as well local government, community and business groups, who have all assisted in making this celebration possible.

This 62-mile crushed stone surfaced trail is the longest contiguous improved trail in Michigan's nearly 1,400 mile trail system. The resurfacing project as well as the celebration event symbolizes the great accomplishments that can occur when partnerships are developed between local, state and federal governments, the business community and dedicated individuals, DNR officials said.

The June 7 trail dedication ceremony will feature simultaneous ribbon cuttings occurring in Gaylord, Vanderbilt, Wolverine, Topinabee, Cheboygan and Mackinaw City. Participants can begin at any one of these communities to join in on the celebration that will culminate with a lunch, dedication ceremony, entertainment, vendor booths and door prizes at the Marina Park in Indian River, which is directly behind the Chamber of Commerce office and adjacent to the trail.

The crushed stone surface was funded with a Michigan Department of Transportation Enhancement grant, as well as matching dollars from several of the communities along the trail. TOMTC has been instrumental in helping the DNR originally acquire the inactive rail-trail, getting the trail resurfaced and now leading the charge in the trail dedication celebration.

To learn more, visit TOMTC's Web site at www.trailscouncil.org.