Summary
This document is a status report on the Braman Hill mountain bike trail, submitted October 8, 2026, ahead of the Leelanau Parks & Recreation meeting on October 21, 2026. It describes the trail's current condition and recommends next steps for completing construction work, rather than reflecting board discussion or votes.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The report assesses the Braman Hill mountain bike trail, noting that benchwork completed in 2025 remains in fairly good shape, walkable and likely rideable, though it needs maintenance. Major outstanding work includes use of a mini excavator to improve safety at the first sharp turn with a drop, which requires tree removal and earth moved to create a banked turn. Other sections need excavator work to remove stumps and build up earth and stone for trail features, plus removal of a few small trees along the trail. The approach at the top of Braman Hill needs benching, which could be done with trail tools already owned by the Township.
The report's author recommends against redoing completed construction, despite advice from a volunteer to start over on some sections. Instead, the recommendation is to finish work already started, open the trail to riders, and gather user feedback to guide future changes, citing the Vasa Single Track trail on Supply Road, Palmer Woods, and sections of the North Country National Scenic Trail in Grand Traverse County as examples of trails that evolved through rider use and volunteer involvement.
The author suggests contracting someone to complete the excavator work and potentially hiring Youth Work crews to handle maintenance and remaining benching. Youth Work could likely begin in early November, with excavator work potentially deferred to early spring if no contractor is found sooner.
Action Items
- Identify and contract a provider to complete excavator work on the trail (tree/stump removal, earth moving for the sharp turn and other features), timeline unspecified; may be deferred to early spring if unavailable sooner.
- Consider hiring Youth Work crews to perform trail maintenance and complete benching, with possible start in early November.
- Open the trail to riders to gather user feedback before making further modifications.