An outgrowth of the GFHC’s Health Improvement Committee, the Coalition’s Flint River Trail Committee was formed in 2004 and operated until 2008.
The Flint River Trail is a linear park that 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. Future plans include the development of other connectors with the City of Flint, expansion west from downtown to Kettering University and Mott Park, and the completion of the Genesee County Park trail system around Mott Lake. 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, identified trail entrances, and benches for relaxing.
The focus of activities for the Coalition’s Flint River Trail Committee was beautification of the Flint River Trail, health promotion to the residents of the City of Flint and Genesee County, and promotion of safe use of the Trail.
During that period, the Ruth Mott Foundation (RMF) funded two Flint River Trail focused grants:
- Flint River Trail Beautification & Expansion – Phase I
Grant Period: April 1, 2005 – March 31, 2006
Grant Amount: $93,500
Focus Areas: beautification and clean-up; development of 3-5 year plan for trail improvements; development of brochures, maps, and marketing materials; neighborhood health promotion events; planning for historical wayside signage - Flint River Trail Beautification & Expansion – Phase II
Grant Period: January 1, 2006 – July 31, 2007
Grant Amount: $96,100
Focus Areas: community engagement via presentations, focus groups, community dialogues, & implementation of community liaison group; trail needs assessment & user-surveys; support and development of City of Flint five year recreation plan; development of health promotion and social marketing strategy; distribution of community engagement activity results; installation of historical wayside signage
From May 2005 to mid-2006, the GFHC’s Flint River Trail Committee was charged by the GFHC Board and leadership to discuss and address the lack of diversity of the Flint River Trail Committee, especially its need to involve African Americans – the majority population in the City of Flint. Community engagement was the major focus of the GFHC’s Phase II Flint River Trail grant. The outcomes of community engagement efforts from that grant are as follows:
Engagement Efforts / Volume of Contacts:
- 408 needs assessment surveys were administered & collected
- 196 user-intercept surveys were collected
- 332 community members participated in a community liaison group presentation
- Over 70 community members participated in focus groups
- In total 258 community member names were collected as interested
- Community dialogue secessions were held where 27 community members participated over four sessions to understand the community’s concerns regarding the Trail and barriers to its use
Findings / Community Views of Trail:
- ~50% respondents were not aware there was a trail / did not know where it was
- Those aware of the trail saw it as unsafe
- lack of police patrols
- lack of lighting
- lack of users
- lack of safe access points
- lack of amenities
- lack of maintenance in spots
While the Ruth Mott Foundation has now reorganized all Flint River Trail activities under the auspices of Safe and Active Genesee For Everyone (SAGE), the GFHC remains engaged as a partner to address the outcomes of our previous community engagement efforts. To do so, a social marketing campaign has been designed to:
- Create awareness of the Flint River Trail while defining location and points of entry
- Educate county residents on health benefits of Trail use
- Address community concerns about safety and cleanliness
- Improve usage and build participation in organized Trail events
The GFHC’s Flint River Trail social marketing campaign in collaboration with SAGE occurred in the fall of 2009. For additional information, please click here.
