Ada Trail follow-up article

This article, also written exclusively for my journalism class at GVSU, was a follow-up to the Ada trails article, and chronicled the town hall meeting gauging feedback from the townspeople about the proposed trail project. It became quite heated and controversial, so I like to use this as an example of putting an interesting spin on a town hall meeting.

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Phase two of trail project sparks controversy among residents

By Matt Marn

Tempers flared as Ada Township residents became divided down the center of Knapp Street as residents came to a trail planning meeting Thursday evening.

The dispute developed when the updated plans showed the non-vehicular bike and pedestrian trail to be placed on the South side of Knapp Street, while on the ballot in 2006, the proposal for the millage allegedly displayed the trail on the North side.

Several residents argued it was put on the ballot that way so it would pass, and then the township pulled a bait-and-switch.

Ada Township resident Tracy Baij said the township should have proposed a general 15-mile trail so everyone would have “equal skin in the game.”

“You pitted those who stood to gain against those who stood to lose, and they outnumbered them,” Baij told the township board.

Township trustee John Westra said the key thing to focus on is all of the trail committee meetings were published and were available on the website for community members’ knowledge.

The committee originally outlined the path of the trail and when they had to project it, it chose the North side of Knapp, Westra said.

“None of our information said it would stay on that side,” he said. “The purpose [of that projection] was not to determine what side of the road the trail would go on, but which street and communities would be served.”

Landowners also expressed concern over easements, which Ada Township is in the process of discussing with residents whose property will be affected by the trail.

“We always want to have a project like this to take place in an area of support,” Westra said. “We also depend on easements, or agreements between the township and the property owner. These are all voluntary.”

Westra said the township could put the trail all on the trail’s right-of-way, the section of the land closest to the street. This 33 feet from the center line of the road toward the property is not owned by the property owner. However, if the township obtains permission from landowners to go further into their property to make the trail, it would be more attractive, he said.

While some residents are opposed to the plan, Bill and Donna Havenga are in favor of the trail because it would provide a safer route for community members during their walks.

“It happens to be on the other side of the road, but we’d be for it if it was on our side,” said Donna Havenga. “My husband walks. He’s had two open-heart surgeries, so he walks a mile or more every day.”

Havenga said she thinks it could benefit the community greatly because it will allow residents to walk from one house to another, which would be nice.

“If it will bring us together as neighbors, it would be great, but I don’t think it will,” she said.

Westra said this new trail would allow residents a location or safe route to use in their efforts to live a healthier lifestyle on either foot or bicycle, as well as connect the community.

“My main worry, however, is safety,” he said. “We have to make sure the people are safe, especially children and young people. Whenever the trails cross roads you have a potential for problems. We need those areas to be as few and safe as possible.”