DNR, partners announce completion of Iron Belle Trail segment on Belle Isle

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Sept. 12

A new segment of the Iron Belle Trail – the longest state-designated trail in the U.S. – is now complete, and a ribbon-cutting is set to celebrate this 5.8-mile path Friday, Sept. 12, on Belle Isle in Detroit.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which takes place 10-11 a.m. at Sunset Point, commemorates the end of Phase 2 construction of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail. The trail loops around Belle Isle Park and is the first stretch of the Iron Belle Trail from the southern terminus, or what is known as the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Gateway. 

Using existing trails, networks and new connections, the Iron Belle Trail extends more than 2,000 miles from the far western tip of the Upper Peninsula to Belle Isle in Detroit, with a route for bicycling and a route for hiking. With this new segment, the Iron Belle Trail is more than 70% complete.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recognizes and appreciates the community efforts and commitment involved in building trails like this one on Belle Isle, said Kristen Kosick, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.

"We are proud to mark the completion of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail on Belle Isle, connecting the park to the Detroit riverfront and the city's local and regional trails," Kosick said. "We're grateful to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation for its generous contribution in helping make this project possible."

With this new segment of the Iron Belle Trail, and through the partnership with the DNR and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Detroit is "one step closer to a fully connected regional trail system," said Dr. Meagan Elliott, chief executive officer and president of the Belle Isle Conservancy.

"Pretty soon, a Detroiter in a Midwest neighborhood will be able to hop on the Joe Louis Greenway, bike along the riverfront and end up on this beautiful trail that circles our beloved island park," Elliott said. "These are the types of long-term visionary investments that really transform a city."

David Egner, president and CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, praised community members for their contributions to this trail project.

“At the center of this new amenity and experience on Belle Isle are the hundreds of Detroiters who shared their voices and input on how they wanted to better connect to and enjoy this incredible island park," Egner said. "We’re grateful to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Transportation, Belle Isle Conservancy and many other partners that helped to bring the full 5.8-mile Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail to completion."

Event details

The public is welcome to attend the ribbon-cutting, which will feature DNR staff as well as representatives from the Belle Isle Conservancy and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation sharing details of the trail project.

Event speakers include:

• Tom Bissett, urban district manager for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.
• Kristin Phillips, DNR chief administrative officer.
• Meagan Elliott, CEO and president of the Belle Isle Conservancy.
• Dave Egner, president of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

Trail background

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail on the Iron Belle Trail was made possible with a generous gift from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in partnership with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. Several federal and state funding sources also contributed to the development of the trail, including grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. In addition, Iron Belle Trail Challenge and Iron Belle Trust Fund grants helped make this trail possible. The total cost for the Wilson Gateway and Trail construction is $10.5 million.

The completion of this trail and two-way cycle track is one of many improvements resulting from Belle Isle Park Multimodal Mobility Study recommendations. This 2.5-year study informed the Belle Isle multimodal mobility plan, which outlines a long-term vision and a 10-year implementation strategy to enhance and improve the way people and vehicles move across the park's roads, trails, sidewalks and parking areas. The study was made possible by support from the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

Learn more about the thousands of miles of trails offering opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, ORV riding, snowmobiling and more at Michigan.gov/DNRTrails.

Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

• Trail and cycle track: Completion of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail and two-way cycle track are among many improvements resulting from Belle Isle Park Multimodal Mobility Study recommendations. 
• Gateway sign: The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail loops around Belle Isle Park and is the first stretch of the Iron Belle Trail from the southern terminus, or what is known as the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Gateway. 
• Iron Belle Trail: Using existing trails, networks and new connections, the Iron Belle Trail extends more than 2,000 miles from the far western tip of the Upper Peninsula to Belle Isle in Detroit, with a route for bicycling and a route for hiking. It is the longest state-designated trail in the U.S. With the new segment on Belle Isle, the Iron Belle Trail is more than 70% complete.
• Pedestrian bridge: A new pedestrian bridge is among the improvements made as part of the completion of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail on Belle Isle. This project was made possible with a generous gift from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in partnership with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.