In the making for more than 30 years, the four-mile, scenic Boardman Lake Loop Trail is open to the public, providing a new corridor for pedestrians and bicyclists, thanks to the city of Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Charter Township of Garfield, Team Elmers and all those involved in the Traverse Area Recreational Trail (TART) Trails project. A ribbon-cutting ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m., August 19, at Medalie Park, on the south side of Boardman Lake, will celebrate the grand opening after adding a few finishing touches such as planting trees and installing benches.

            Completing the Boardman Lake Loop Trail has been a top community priority on the minds of many community members and public figures because it showcases the region’s natural, cultural and recreational resources. Julie Clark, CEO of TART Trails, says, “This is really a legacy project. When we were working with everybody on the design and the engineering, what we knew is this isn’t something here for 10 years or 20 years, this is for generations to come.” Some sections of the Loop were completed years ago, but the southwestern rim remained unfinished.

For more information, visit TraverseTrails.org/event/boardman-lake-loop-trail-ribbon-cutting.