The Flint River Trail

healthier Genesee County. Facilitated by the Crim Fitness Foundation, SAGE is a collaborative of local advocates, non-profit, private, and government organizations working together

to promote active living initiatives that create safe opportunities for people to be

physically active throughout Genesee County. Through a generous grant from the Ruth Mott Foundation, SAGE has been working on

physical improvements to the trail, distance/direction/destination signage,

and increasing community awareness of the trail and benefits of its use. SAGE hopes that the Flint River Trail will connect communities county-wide to create a beautiful,

integrated trail system. For more information on SAGE, visit www.activegenesee.org or call (810) 235-7801.

How can I benefit from the Flint River Trail?Better HealthWalk, run, or bike. There is a rich body of scientific research demonstrating the health, social, and psychological benefits of regularly engaging in physical activity. Active individuals have decreased risks of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression, anxiety and death. Protect your health and enjoy the opportunities the Flint River Trail offers right in your backyard.

Fun Family ActivitiesThe river trail offers a perfect setting for families and friends to interact in a healthy and inexpensive manner. Have a cookout, go fishing, sit by the water, or play volleyball or soccer in one of the parks along the trail. The trail also provides non-motorized

access to Bluebell Beach, Stepping Stone Falls, and the other Genesee County facilities. The Flint River Trail is the perfect place for fun and games with family and friends.

Picturesque ViewsEnjoy the natural beauty of a Michigan waterway. The landscaping includes flowers and shrubs set against beautiful views of the river. Occasionally, geese, herons, ducks, and other wildlife are spotted along the trail. The Flint River Trail is a scenic, peaceful retreat.

Educational InsightThe Flint River Trail features Wayside Historical Signage along the trail. These signs will offer a great history lesson to users of the trail. Adults and youth alike will enjoy learning about our Flint heritage surrounded by the wonders of nature.

Who uses the Flint River Trail?

Everyone is welcome to use the Flint River Trail. For individuals who would like an introduction to the

trail and its use, there are organized groups who lead activities on the Flint River Trail.

• The Flint River Watershed Coalition hosts River Walks throughout Genesee County.

• The Friends of the Flint River Trail meet at the Flint Farmers Market at 2:00 p.m. every Sunday, May through October, for bike rides along the trail. Newcomers are welcome! For more information, visit http://edtech.mcc.edu/ffrt or call (810) 235-1490 or (810) 232-3161.

What is the Flint River Trail?

The Flint River Trail is a linear park that currently follows the Flint River from downtown Flint north to Bluebell

Beach in the Genesee County Recreation Area. The existing Flint River Trail is the spine of a developing Flint River Trail System that now includes a loop through Kearsley Park and the Flint Cultural Center.

Currently, trail users can travel from the University of Michigan-Flint Campus to Bluebell Beach, approximately a 12 mile round-trip. A 3 mile extension from Saginaw Street downtown to Kettering University and further on to Ballenger Highway has been funded and will be completed in spring 2010. Future plans include connections to the Trolley Line trail to the north and the Grand Traverse Greenway to the south.

Most of the trail is asphalt; however, there are a few “disconnects” along the route where trail users may need to use streets or sidewalks. A multi-year project is underway to eliminate and/or minimize these disconnects. Future plans for the Flint River Trail include the creation of more directional signs, improved crossing signs, marking trail heads, benches for relaxing, and much more.

What is the Flint River Trail project?

In 2005, the Greater Flint Health Coalition began leading work on the Flint River Trail as part of their

Health Improvement Committee to promote new attitudes toward health and well-being. The Health Improvement Committee recognized the Flint River Trail as a key piece of infrastructure that provides a place for people to engage in

physical activity. In 2008, a collaborative was formed called Safe and Active Genesee for Everyone

(SAGE), which included organizations such as the Greater Flint Health

Coalition that were interested in creating a

Contact the Greater Flint Health Coalition at (810) 232-2228 for more information.

Stephany Diana

c/o Mott Community College

1401 E. Court St.

Flint Michigan 48503

Phone: (810) 232.31.61

Visit us on the web

at www.edtech.mcc.edu//ffrt

• Be careful

crossing

roadways and

other places where

motorized vehicles are present.

• Use crosswalks with signals where available.

• Walking/running/biking with a friend or in a

small group is always safer and more fun.

• Drink plenty of water before, during, and

after physical activity.

• Wear a helmet when biking or rollerblading.

• Bicyclists yield to all users.

• Stay to the right on the trail. If passing other

users from behind, announce your approach

and pass on the left.

• Please move off the trail when stopping to

enjoy the view or to rest.

• Check with your doctor before you begin

any fitness program.

• Do not exceed your physical capacities.

Tips for Safe and Courteous Trail Use

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F l i n t R i ve r

T R A I L

WalkRunBike

EscapeExplore

Where can I access the Flint River Trail?

The Flint River Trail can be easily accessed on foot or by bicycle from many

neighborhoods in Flint. If you are coming from outside of the city, the trail can be accessed from I-475 at Robert T. Longway (Exit 8B if coming from the North, exit 8A if coming from the South) or Carpenter Road. Parking is available at the Flint City Market, Kearsley or Veterans Park, or Bluebell Beach. See the map above for more information about points of entry.

Saginaw

Saginaw

Sa g

i na w

Robert T Longway

Pierso n

Pierso n

M ill

e r

Do

rt

Do

rt

S I 4

75

N I

475

E I 6 9

W I 69

Cou rt

Cou rt

9t h

8t h

E I 6 9/Do rt

W I 69/Do rt E I 6 9/Cen te r

Ch

arles

W I 69/Cen te r

Do

rt /S I 475

Cou rt /S

I 4 75

Be lsay/E I 6 9

Se lb

y/S I 4 75

N I 475/ Sa gi na w

N I 475/ S

e lb y

S I 4 75/ Sa gi na w

Do rt /E I 6 9

S I

4 75/

Br o

a dw

ay

N I 475/D

o rt

N I 475/ S

t e ver

Coldwater

Stanley Rd.

Bluegill Boat Ramp CrossroadsVillage

Bluebell Beach

Stepping Stone Falls

Genesee Recreation Area

Ri ve Johnson School

Hampstead Dr.

Pierson

Bran

ch

Bray

Cen

ter

Gen

esee Rd

.

rs ide Pa rk

Whaley

Utah Street Dam

Pa rk

Ke ar sl ey Pa rk

UM -F lin t

Fo r- Ma r Na tu re Pre ser ve & Ar bo re tu m

Ke ar sl ey L ake Go lf C ou rs e

Vietnam Veterans Park

Pi er ce Pa rk Go lf C ou rs e

Mo tt Co mm uni ty Co llege

Lo ng wa y Pa rk

Bo nn er P ar k

Coo k Pa rk

pl ew oo d

Aldr ic h Pa rk

L ayt on P ar k

Bren na n Pa rk

Ri ve r Ba nk P ar k

Coo k Pa rk /Perani Arena

Bo ro ug hs P ar k

ur e Ar ea

Be rs to n Pa rk

Atwood Stadium

Wo od lawn P ar k

Me mo ri al Par k

Willson Park

Mc Ki nl ey Pa rk Th read La ke

Ea st Str eet P ar k

3rd Ave.

5th Ave.

to Kettering University

DOWNTOWN FLINT

0 0 .7 5 1 .5 0.5 Mile s

Map supplied Courtesy of the Cent er for A pplied Environm ent al Research; U M- Fl in t

CITY OF GENESEE

Ap

Kearsley St.

Dayton Park

Cultural Center

Caution: Trail continues on street. Please cross at Stewart Ave. signal.

Carpenter Rd.

Leith

Garfield

Hamilton Ave.

Stewart Ave.

W. Boulevard Dr.

E. Boule

vard

Dr.

Behind water plant

Jam

es P

. Co

le

Lew

is

Western

Rd

.

Davison Rd.

Saginaw

Saginaw

Sa g

i na w

Robert T Longway

Pierso n

Pierso n

M ill

e r

Do

rt

Do

rt

S I 4

75

N I

475

E I 6 9

W I 69

Cou rt

Cou rt

9t h

8t h

E I 6 9/Do rt

W I 69/Do rt E I 6 9/Cen te r

Ch

arles

W I 69/Cen te r

Do

rt /S I 475

Cou rt /S

I 4 75

Be lsay/E I 6 9

Se lb

y/S I 4 75

N I 475/ Sa gi na w

N I 475/ S

e lb y

S I 4 75/ Sa gi na w

Do rt /E I 6 9

S I

4 75/

Br o

a dw

ay

N I 475/D

o rt

N I 475/ S

t e ver

Coldwater

Stanley Rd.

Bluegill Boat Ramp CrossroadsVillage

Bluebell Beach

Stepping Stone Falls

Genesee Recreation Area

Ri ve Johnson School

Hampstead Dr.

Pierson

Bran

ch

Bray

Cen

ter

Gen

esee Rd

.

rs ide Pa rk

Whaley

Utah Street Dam

Pa rk

Ke ar sl ey Pa rk

UM -F lin t

Fo r- Ma r Na tu re Pre ser ve & Ar bo re tu m

Ke ar sl ey L ake Go lf C ou rs e

Vietnam Veterans Park

Pi er ce Pa rk Go lf C ou rs e

Mo tt Co mm uni ty Co llege

Lo ng wa y Pa rk

Bo nn er P ar k

Coo k Pa rk

pl ew oo d

Aldr ic h Pa rk

L ayt on P ar k

Bren na n Pa rk

Ri ve r Ba nk P ar k

Coo k Pa rk /Perani Arena

Bo ro ug hs P ar k

ur e Ar ea

Be rs to n Pa rk

Atwood Stadium

Wo od lawn P ar k

Me mo ri al Par k

Willson Park

Mc Ki nl ey Pa rk Th read La ke

Ea st Str eet P ar k

3rd Ave.

5th Ave.

to Kettering University

DOWNTOWN FLINT

0 0 .7 5 1 .5 0.5 Mile s

Map supplied Courtesy of the Cent er for A pplied Environm ent al Research; U M- Fl in t

CITY OF GENESEE

Ap

Kearsley St.

Dayton Park

Cultural Center

Caution: Trail continues on street. Please cross at Stewart Ave. signal.

Carpenter Rd.

Leith

Garfield

Hamilton Ave.

Stewart Ave.

W. Boulevard Dr.

E. Boule

vard

Dr.

Behind water plant

Jam

es P

. Co

le

Lew

is

Western

Rd

.

Davison Rd.

F l i n t R i ve r

T R A I L

The Flint River Trail

Kearsley ParK looPFarmers’ Market to Gilkey Creek .6 milesKearsley Creek to Longway Blvd. 1.0 miles (Via Dayton and Kearsley Parks) Longway Blvd. to Farmers’ Market 1.4 miles (Via Kearsley Street) Complete Loop 3.0 miles

east side of riverUM Bridge to Farmers’ Market .4 milesFarmers’ Market to Hamilton Ave. .7 milesHamilton Ave. to Dort Hwy. 1.6 milesDort Hwy. To Johnson School 1.1 milesUM Bridge to Johnson School 3.8 miles

West side of riverUM Bridge to Hamilton Ave. 1.2 milesHamilton Ave. to Dort Hwy. 1.6 milesDort Hwy. to Carpenter Rd. 2.0 milesCarpenter Rd. to Bluebell Beach 1.1 milesUM Bridge to Bluebell Beach 5.9 miles

Bike Rides at Farmers’ MarketEvery Sunday at 2:00pm, May - October

trail Key

trail Continues on street

Proposed trail

restrooms

dining

Parking

Picnic area

trail

trail Coming soon

Look For These Trail Signs