Plan to Rename & Extend Waterfront Trail Advances

According to the DNT, the proposed plan would stretch the existing 3.3 mile Western Waterfront Trail another 7 miles southward, connecting it to trails running through Jay Cooke State Park. This DNT says that the trail would not interfere with L S & M;s railroad tracks, but would be 4.5-15 feet away from them depending on the location, as the trail winds throughout the woods.

In the midst of work and planning, the DNT reports that representatives of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior have been involved in developing the extended Western Waterfront Trail and have come up with a proposed name. That is, 'Waabizheshikana' which means 'Marten Way, path or road.' The DNT says that this name pays tribute to the Ojibwe Marten Clan, which settled in the area, developing a network of paths and portages. 

The total cost of the project is anticipated to cost $4.9 million to complete, but the DNT says that those working on the project intend to leverage federal and state support to achieve it in a plausible manner. Given the magnitude of the project, the DNT says that it will be worked on in phases and could take as long as a decade to complete.

The DNT says that the trail could open up new opportunities for the L S & M Railroad by attracting walkers, bikers, cross country skiers and snowshoers.