Ribbon Cutting: September 11 @ 10:30 a.m.
Grand Opening Celebration: September 12 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Grass River Center, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire
Grass River Natural Area, Inc. (GRNA), in partnership with Antrim County, is proud to announce the completion of all three phases of the Boardwalk Reconstruction Project. This milestone achievement enhances safe, accessible access to the scenic and ecologically significant Grass River. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. and a family-friendly celebration on September 12th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will mark the occasion and celebrate this community-supported success.
With planning initiated in 2016 and construction occurring over the last 8 years, the third phase was completed late in July 2026. GRNA now boasts 1.26 miles of accessible boardwalk in addition to another .8 miles of accessible paths, making this the longest accessible boardwalk in Michigan. Project enhancements include:
● New 6’ wide, accessible surface with curb rails for safety
● Three new observation platforms, including new overlooks into Clam Lake and the Grass River
● Six new bridges over Finch Creek
● A larger dock at the Grass River
● An accessible kayak launch designed to support paddlers of all abilities.
Total cost for all three phases was $3,075,409, with generous funding support from Antrim County, the State of Michigan’s SPARK grant, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Impact 100 Traverse City, Oleson Foundation, Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, and many private donors and foundations.
Antrim County Administrator Jeremy Scott emphasized the importance of the community partnership, stating:
“Finishing Phase III is a huge milestone for Antrim County and the Grass River Natural Area. We are extremely grateful to Grass River Natural Area, Inc. and everyone in our community who stepped up to help make this vision a reality.
This project makes one of our region’s most beautiful locations accessible to everyone, and is something our entire county can be truly proud of.”
The newly installed boardwalk system, constructed of 6-foot wooden panels set atop elevated steel frames, ensures both durability and environmental sensitivity. The raised structure supports the natural movement of wildlife, which has already been documented on GRNA’s trail cameras – featuring species such as bobcat, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, and ermine.
“Thanks to many years of persistence, passion, and hard work, we are
thrilled to see visitors of all abilities experiencing the beauty of a cedar
forest, stunning views into protected wetlands, and safe crossings of Finch Creek. From art groups to wheelchair users to families pushing strollers, the new boardwalk has truly opened the door to connecting people to nature in new ways at GRNA,” says Jenn Wright, GRNA’s Executive Director.
Engineering and construction were led by Gosling Czubak Engineering Services and Richter Construction, both based in Traverse City, and the boardwalk system was fabricated by Wickcraft Boardwalks of Wisconsin.
This transformational project reflects GRNA’s mission to inspire lifelong connections to nature through education, conservation, and stewardship of the Grass River watershed, and helps them kick off a new era of accessibility and inclusive exploration at Grass River Natural Area.
Readers are invited to join Grass River Natural Area at the ribbon-cutting on Friday September 11, at 10:30 a.m.. Then, on Saturday, September 12 from 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m., everyone is invited to the Grand Opening Celebration. Visitors are encouraged to explore the boardwalks while stopping at fun, interactive stations along the way.
One example is a storybook station, led by staff from the Northwest Early Childhood Network, which provides free opportunities for families to connect and support their children. Grass River is a partner through their Family Playgroups. Each child who stops to enjoy a story will receive a bag from PoWeR! Book Bags, a volunteer organization in northern Michigan that provides language and literacy material to positively impact children and families.
Visitors who “find” all ten stations and capture a photo of each one with their cellphone will win a free hot dog and chips from Dinger Dawgs, who will be on-site selling refreshments, including hot dogs, chili dogs and fresh lemonade. Those who “find” at least five of the stations and capture photos of each, will receive a limited edition “I Explored the Boardwalk at GRNA” sticker, perfect for a vehicle or water bottle
GRNA is located at 6500 Alden Hwy., Bellaire, MI. For more information on GRNA, including environmental education programs, and their extensive boardwalks and hiking trails, visit their website at www.grassriver.org or call (231) 533-8576. For more information of the Grand Opening Celebration on September 12, contact Chris Kuebler at GRNA at the above phone number or via email at chris@grassriver.org
