Our mission is to promote, construct, and maintain the scenic Blue Star Trail
to connect people and communities from Saugatuck to South Haven while improving their safety, wellness, economic health, and environment.
to connect people and communities from Saugatuck to South Haven while improving their safety, wellness, economic health, and environment.
WHAT'S NEW?
Click on blue italicized links for more details on updates shown below.
May, 2021 - The Friends announced it will once again hold its annual fundraiser, a Toast to the Blue Star Trail Party, on August 23, 2021. The event will be outside at a beautiful farm located between Saugatuck and South Haven. It will be an evening with food, drinks and an auction to benefit the cause that truly connects us all. Additional details will be posted on our website in early July.
April, 2021 - The Tri-Community Committee (TCC - Saugatuck Township, City of Saugatuck, Douglas, and the Friends) will retain C2AE as the engineering firm to assist it in reviewing options, developing schematic plans and cost opinions and gaining consensus for routing of three segments of the Blue Star Trail as shown on the map below. These segments include; 1) The Blue Star Highway bridge crossing of the Kalamazoo River; 2) along the west side of the Blue Star Highway from the bridge north to Old Allegan Road, and 3) from the intersection of North Street and the Blue Star Highway westerly to Holland Street, either through the Township’s Alamanchier Park or along North/Elizabeth Streets.
January, 2021 - Year end donations: Thank you! We finished 2020 with a significant show of financial support from 90 individual donors. The $22,095 donated was more than sufficient to trigger the Board match challenge of $10,000, for a total of $32,095. We were particularly gratified to receive $5,000 from an anonymous donor.
New President: After completing his three-year term as President of the Friends of the Blue Star Trail, John Adams stepped down and Clark Carmichael was elected to replace him (more).
December, 2020 - The Friends announced that its Board of Directors has offered to match year-end donations up to $10,000. John Adams, President of the organization, noted that “This contribution by our Board demonstrates commitment to building the Trail and confidence that we are poised to take major steps forward.”
December, 2020 - The Tri-community Study Committee (Saugatuck Township, City of Saugatuck, Douglas, and the Friends) will soon resume its efforts to collaborate on a plan to complete a 4.5-mile section of Trail from Douglas over the bridge through City of Saugatuck and Saugatuck TWP to the Beeline Trail, which continues on to Holland (see map below) . Timely action by this committee and the three governments will put the effort on track to submit grant applications to MDOT and DNR in 2021-22 and begin construction in 2023.
*Also, click on Articles, Editorials and Correspondence for more information.
EVENTS!
Our Annual Bike Tour, scheduled for September 19, 2020 has been rescheduled to September 18, 2021.
Raise your glass...the Toast party is back and scheduled for August 23, 2021!
WHO ARE WE?
An all-volunteer charitable organization partnering with local communities to promote and fund the scenic Blue Star Trail - a 20 mile paved, non-motorized recreational trail between Saugatuck and South Haven.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Friends of the Blue Star Trail acts as a catalyst in partnership with local communities to promote and fund the trail.
HOW IS IT FUNDED?
We raise money through direct donations and our two main fund-raising events – “Toast to the Blue Star Trail” and “Lakeshore Harvest Ride”. These activities fund engineering and provide local match funds required to obtain state/federal matching grants needed to construct the trail.
WHY BUILD A TRAIL...?
SAFETYSeparate pedestrians, runners, bikers, and skiers from roadways
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WELLNESSEncourage physical outdoor activity and recreation
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ECONOMIC HEALTHIncrease visitor and resident traffic to businesses and attractions along the route.
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CONNECTIVITYConnecting people and communities from Saugatuck to South Haven and beyond
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ENVIRONMENTImproved air quality due to zero emission transportation and recreation
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