The Flint River Trail
healthier Genesee County. Facilitated by the Crim Fitness Foundation, SAGE is a collaborative of local advocates, non-profit, private, and government organizations working together
to promote active living initiatives that create safe opportunities for people to be
physically active throughout Genesee County. Through a generous grant from the Ruth Mott Foundation, SAGE has been working on
physical improvements to the trail, distance/direction/destination signage,
and increasing community awareness of the trail and benefits of its use. SAGE hopes that the Flint River Trail will connect communities county-wide to create a beautiful,
integrated trail system. For more information on SAGE, visit www.activegenesee.org or call (810) 235-7801.
How can I benefit from the Flint River Trail?Better HealthWalk, run, or bike. There is a rich body of scientific research demonstrating the health, social, and psychological benefits of regularly engaging in physical activity. Active individuals have decreased risks of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression, anxiety and death. Protect your health and enjoy the opportunities the Flint River Trail offers right in your backyard.
Fun Family ActivitiesThe river trail offers a perfect setting for families and friends to interact in a healthy and inexpensive manner. Have a cookout, go fishing, sit by the water, or play volleyball or soccer in one of the parks along the trail. The trail also provides non-motorized
access to Bluebell Beach, Stepping Stone Falls, and the other Genesee County facilities. The Flint River Trail is the perfect place for fun and games with family and friends.
Picturesque ViewsEnjoy the natural beauty of a Michigan waterway. The landscaping includes flowers and shrubs set against beautiful views of the river. Occasionally, geese, herons, ducks, and other wildlife are spotted along the trail. The Flint River Trail is a scenic, peaceful retreat.
Educational InsightThe Flint River Trail features Wayside Historical Signage along the trail. These signs will offer a great history lesson to users of the trail. Adults and youth alike will enjoy learning about our Flint heritage surrounded by the wonders of nature.
Who uses the Flint River Trail?
Everyone is welcome to use the Flint River Trail. For individuals who would like an introduction to the
trail and its use, there are organized groups who lead activities on the Flint River Trail.
• The Flint River Watershed Coalition hosts River Walks throughout Genesee County.
• The Friends of the Flint River Trail meet at the Flint Farmers Market at 2:00 p.m. every Sunday, May through October, for bike rides along the trail. Newcomers are welcome! For more information, visit http://edtech.mcc.edu/ffrt or call (810) 235-1490 or (810) 232-3161.
What is the Flint River Trail?
The Flint River Trail is a linear park that currently follows the Flint River from downtown Flint north to Bluebell
Beach in the Genesee County Recreation Area. The existing Flint River Trail is the spine of a developing Flint River Trail System that now includes a loop through Kearsley Park and the Flint Cultural Center.
Currently, trail users can travel from the University of Michigan-Flint Campus to Bluebell Beach, approximately a 12 mile round-trip. A 3 mile extension from Saginaw Street downtown to Kettering University and further on to Ballenger Highway has been funded and will be completed in spring 2010. Future plans include connections to the Trolley Line trail to the north and the Grand Traverse Greenway to the south.
Most of the trail is asphalt; however, there are a few “disconnects” along the route where trail users may need to use streets or sidewalks. A multi-year project is underway to eliminate and/or minimize these disconnects. Future plans for the Flint River Trail include the creation of more directional signs, improved crossing signs, marking trail heads, benches for relaxing, and much more.
What is the Flint River Trail project?
In 2005, the Greater Flint Health Coalition began leading work on the Flint River Trail as part of their
Health Improvement Committee to promote new attitudes toward health and well-being. The Health Improvement Committee recognized the Flint River Trail as a key piece of infrastructure that provides a place for people to engage in
physical activity. In 2008, a collaborative was formed called Safe and Active Genesee for Everyone
(SAGE), which included organizations such as the Greater Flint Health
Coalition that were interested in creating a
Contact the Greater Flint Health Coalition at (810) 232-2228 for more information.
Stephany Diana
c/o Mott Community College
1401 E. Court St.
Flint Michigan 48503
Phone: (810) 232.31.61
Visit us on the web
at www.edtech.mcc.edu//ffrt
• Be careful
crossing
roadways and
other places where
motorized vehicles are present.
• Use crosswalks with signals where available.
• Walking/running/biking with a friend or in a
small group is always safer and more fun.
• Drink plenty of water before, during, and
after physical activity.
• Wear a helmet when biking or rollerblading.
• Bicyclists yield to all users.
• Stay to the right on the trail. If passing other
users from behind, announce your approach
and pass on the left.
• Please move off the trail when stopping to
enjoy the view or to rest.
• Check with your doctor before you begin
any fitness program.
• Do not exceed your physical capacities.
Tips for Safe and Courteous Trail Use
CO
MM
ER
CE
CE
NT
ER
519
Sout
h Sa
gina
w S
tree
t, Su
ite 3
06
Flin
t, M
I 48
502-
1802
June
200
9
F l i n t R i ve r
T R A I L
WalkRunBike
EscapeExplore
Where can I access the Flint River Trail?
The Flint River Trail can be easily accessed on foot or by bicycle from many
neighborhoods in Flint. If you are coming from outside of the city, the trail can be accessed from I-475 at Robert T. Longway (Exit 8B if coming from the North, exit 8A if coming from the South) or Carpenter Road. Parking is available at the Flint City Market, Kearsley or Veterans Park, or Bluebell Beach. See the map above for more information about points of entry.
Saginaw
Saginaw
Sa g
i na w
Robert T Longway
Pierso n
Pierso n
M ill
e r
Do
rt
Do
rt
S I 4
75
N I
475
E I 6 9
W I 69
Cou rt
Cou rt
9t h
8t h
E I 6 9/Do rt
W I 69/Do rt E I 6 9/Cen te r
Ch
arles
W I 69/Cen te r
Do
rt /S I 475
Cou rt /S
I 4 75
Be lsay/E I 6 9
Se lb
y/S I 4 75
N I 475/ Sa gi na w
N I 475/ S
e lb y
S I 4 75/ Sa gi na w
Do rt /E I 6 9
S I
4 75/
Br o
a dw
ay
N I 475/D
o rt
N I 475/ S
t e ver
Coldwater
Stanley Rd.
Bluegill Boat Ramp CrossroadsVillage
Bluebell Beach
Stepping Stone Falls
Genesee Recreation Area
Ri ve Johnson School
Hampstead Dr.
Pierson
Bran
ch
Bray
Cen
ter
Gen
esee Rd
.
rs ide Pa rk
Whaley
Utah Street Dam
Pa rk
Ke ar sl ey Pa rk
UM -F lin t
Fo r- Ma r Na tu re Pre ser ve & Ar bo re tu m
Ke ar sl ey L ake Go lf C ou rs e
Vietnam Veterans Park
Pi er ce Pa rk Go lf C ou rs e
Mo tt Co mm uni ty Co llege
Lo ng wa y Pa rk
Bo nn er P ar k
Coo k Pa rk
pl ew oo d
Aldr ic h Pa rk
L ayt on P ar k
Bren na n Pa rk
Ri ve r Ba nk P ar k
Coo k Pa rk /Perani Arena
Bo ro ug hs P ar k
ur e Ar ea
Be rs to n Pa rk
Atwood Stadium
Wo od lawn P ar k
Me mo ri al Par k
Willson Park
Mc Ki nl ey Pa rk Th read La ke
Ea st Str eet P ar k
3rd Ave.
5th Ave.
to Kettering University
DOWNTOWN FLINT
0 0 .7 5 1 .5 0.5 Mile s
Map supplied Courtesy of the Cent er for A pplied Environm ent al Research; U M- Fl in t
CITY OF GENESEE
Ap
Kearsley St.
Dayton Park
Cultural Center
Caution: Trail continues on street. Please cross at Stewart Ave. signal.
Carpenter Rd.
Leith
Garfield
Hamilton Ave.
Stewart Ave.
W. Boulevard Dr.
E. Boule
vard
Dr.
Behind water plant
Jam
es P
. Co
le
Lew
is
Western
Rd
.
Davison Rd.
Saginaw
Saginaw
Sa g
i na w
Robert T Longway
Pierso n
Pierso n
M ill
e r
Do
rt
Do
rt
S I 4
75
N I
475
E I 6 9
W I 69
Cou rt
Cou rt
9t h
8t h
E I 6 9/Do rt
W I 69/Do rt E I 6 9/Cen te r
Ch
arles
W I 69/Cen te r
Do
rt /S I 475
Cou rt /S
I 4 75
Be lsay/E I 6 9
Se lb
y/S I 4 75
N I 475/ Sa gi na w
N I 475/ S
e lb y
S I 4 75/ Sa gi na w
Do rt /E I 6 9
S I
4 75/
Br o
a dw
ay
N I 475/D
o rt
N I 475/ S
t e ver
Coldwater
Stanley Rd.
Bluegill Boat Ramp CrossroadsVillage
Bluebell Beach
Stepping Stone Falls
Genesee Recreation Area
Ri ve Johnson School
Hampstead Dr.
Pierson
Bran
ch
Bray
Cen
ter
Gen
esee Rd
.
rs ide Pa rk
Whaley
Utah Street Dam
Pa rk
Ke ar sl ey Pa rk
UM -F lin t
Fo r- Ma r Na tu re Pre ser ve & Ar bo re tu m
Ke ar sl ey L ake Go lf C ou rs e
Vietnam Veterans Park
Pi er ce Pa rk Go lf C ou rs e
Mo tt Co mm uni ty Co llege
Lo ng wa y Pa rk
Bo nn er P ar k
Coo k Pa rk
pl ew oo d
Aldr ic h Pa rk
L ayt on P ar k
Bren na n Pa rk
Ri ve r Ba nk P ar k
Coo k Pa rk /Perani Arena
Bo ro ug hs P ar k
ur e Ar ea
Be rs to n Pa rk
Atwood Stadium
Wo od lawn P ar k
Me mo ri al Par k
Willson Park
Mc Ki nl ey Pa rk Th read La ke
Ea st Str eet P ar k
3rd Ave.
5th Ave.
to Kettering University
DOWNTOWN FLINT
0 0 .7 5 1 .5 0.5 Mile s
Map supplied Courtesy of the Cent er for A pplied Environm ent al Research; U M- Fl in t
CITY OF GENESEE
Ap
Kearsley St.
Dayton Park
Cultural Center
Caution: Trail continues on street. Please cross at Stewart Ave. signal.
Carpenter Rd.
Leith
Garfield
Hamilton Ave.
Stewart Ave.
W. Boulevard Dr.
E. Boule
vard
Dr.
Behind water plant
Jam
es P
. Co
le
Lew
is
Western
Rd
.
Davison Rd.
F l i n t R i ve r
T R A I L
The Flint River Trail
Kearsley ParK looPFarmers’ Market to Gilkey Creek .6 milesKearsley Creek to Longway Blvd. 1.0 miles (Via Dayton and Kearsley Parks) Longway Blvd. to Farmers’ Market 1.4 miles (Via Kearsley Street) Complete Loop 3.0 miles
east side of riverUM Bridge to Farmers’ Market .4 milesFarmers’ Market to Hamilton Ave. .7 milesHamilton Ave. to Dort Hwy. 1.6 milesDort Hwy. To Johnson School 1.1 milesUM Bridge to Johnson School 3.8 miles
West side of riverUM Bridge to Hamilton Ave. 1.2 milesHamilton Ave. to Dort Hwy. 1.6 milesDort Hwy. to Carpenter Rd. 2.0 milesCarpenter Rd. to Bluebell Beach 1.1 milesUM Bridge to Bluebell Beach 5.9 miles
Bike Rides at Farmers’ MarketEvery Sunday at 2:00pm, May - October
trail Key
trail Continues on street
Proposed trail
restrooms
dining
Parking
Picnic area
trail
trail Coming soon
Look For These Trail Signs