Trestle Park, 11101 Summit Ave NE, Rockford

This fieldstone culvert was built in 1885 to bolster a wooden trestle. The railroad is gone, the trestle is buried, and this park now connects to the White Pine Trail on which you can walk for miles. The culvert seems well maintained except for the local tagging (the 'no snow' photos are from March 29, 2021). 
The view from the top.
We visited the park twice in February.
View from the road behind it (as close as we could get).
Old railroad markers and white pines can be seen on the aptly named trail.
You are walking on and/or viewing a piece of history each time you visit the park or walk the trail. 
 We are happy a part of this railroad history was preserved.

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 31, 2021 at 12:53 PM

    Thank you! Great photo's... It's so very wonderful to visit from CA to MI in these Covid times.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve, 10471 6 Mile Rd NE, Rockford

Image
  This is a hidden gem in West Michigan that we recently visited. The 123 acre site contains meandering trails that roam through prairie, woods, and bogs. It is unique and beautiful. A General Land Office Survey in 1800 showed this property to be oak-hickory forests with mixed conifer swamp. In the 1860s, John and Mikel Saul emigrated from Ireland and lived here. From then until the 1980s, all land that was not wetlands was cleared and farmed. But in the 1970s some interest rose in protecting the unique wetlands. In 1989 the Nature Area Conservancy of West Michigan bought 52 acres from Valerino & Maria Castro. in 1991 the Land Conservancy acquired the remaining land. Current management is focused on protecting the bog, reforesting cleared areas, and establishing a tallgrass prairie. Here are the rest of the photos from our visit.  It's an easy hike and covers 1.8 miles. We're looking forward to our next visit when fall colors are at their peak. Visit soon and support the p...
Read more

Clear Springs Nature Preserve, 3585 W. Fruitvale Road, Montague

Image
This gorgeous 100 or so acreage preserve has about 3 miles of trails and was one of the earliest trading posts in the area (1848, according to Montague Township).  In the 1950s, the property was owned by North Star Fish Hatchery, the Bob Wesley family, and remnants of that can still be seen. In the 1990s, the land was slated to become a 90-home development but Montague Township raised the money to purchase it instead and preserved this beautiful place. Walk the six different trails and find tree stands, turtles, and informative signs. A short distance on the Rim Trail will bring you to this impressive stand of trees. Elevation changes are minimal so the trails are not difficult. Enjoy this scenic and unique preserve!  
Read more

Aman Park, 0-1859 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids ~ May 2021

Image
5-11-21 This is the view looking up from the grave of the man who donated these 331 acres to the City of Grand Rapids in 1926. He selected his burial site and was buried here in 1928. Thank you, Jacob Aman. There is one other historic monument in the park, that remembering Edwin Sweet (1847 - 1935). He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1874 and became Mayor of Grand Rapids 1904-1906. He, however, is not buried under this rock. After finding these spots we set off on one of the many beautiful dirt trails. We crossed these two bridges and were amazed at the fields of trillium and bluebells, flowing through the woods like rivers. Wild Phlox, Wild Geranium, and Jack-in-the-Pulpit 5-13-21 Today we returned to the park to take a few larger loop trails. Although there are markers here and there (not enough of them), this is the only map (at the main entrance). We took a pre-printed one with us but if you are color-blind, it won't help you. The map doesn't have co...
Read more