Editor's Note:  This piece was written by Laura Matson.   Matson is a MS/MUP Candidate at the University of Michigan. 

In September 2012, students at the SNRE Pig Roast & Produce raised $1,694.83 to donate to the organization of their choice. Organizations were nominated and chosen by popular vote at this student-organized event. The Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy, a grassroots effort to build a bike and pedestrian path through the heart of Ann Arbor along the historic alignment of Allen Creek, was this year’s recipient.

Jonathan Bulkley, an emeritus faculty member at SNRE, who has been with the school since 1968, also serves on the Board of Directors for the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy. Dr. Bulkley wrote,

The student’s donation comes at a very important moment for the Conservancy as we are working closely with the City of Ann Arbor in the planning of the initial segment of the Greenway.  On behalf of the board, I would like to express our most sincere gratitude for the students’ generosity. This donation provides resources needed for this major undertaking.

I sat down with Dr. Bulkley to learn more about the Conservancy’s work.

How did the project get started?

The first reference to the greenway was around 1980, as far as we can tell. A few years later the Downtown Development Authority wanted to construct a multi-level parking structure at First and William streets, which is on the proposed greenway route. So the first effort was to block this proposed parking structure. That parking structure didn’t move forward; instead, it’s safe to say, the underground parking structure next to the library was the replacement.

The City of Ann Arbor 2007 Non-motorized Transportation plan includes a conceptual drawing of the greenway. That plan is now being updated by the City. We’re cautiously optimistic that we’ll have a little more play in the updated plan. We’ve applied to Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Department to construct portions of the greenway, but those were not approved.

If you look at a map of Ann Arbor, you won’t see Allen Creek. What happened to the creek?

We think the Allen Creek was covered over in the 1920s. There’s a poem written by Robert Frost, and he was a scholar-in-residence here in the 1920s, and you’re not really sure that it’s about Allen Creek but it talks about burying a stream and it was written in the time period he was here. But the creek had really been a center of activity up to that point. There’s a good deal of industry along the route, including a tannery. As a result the soil is contaminated, so we’ll have to deal with that issue as we move forward.

What’s the current status of the project?

In August 2011, City Council passed a very supportive non-binding resolution. The Mayor and members of Council have been very supportive. What’s been happening most recently is the creation of the North Main taskforce to consider the whole entrance area along North Main into Ann Arbor. There’s a special group looking at 721 N Main because funds are available to tear down two of the buildings that are in the floodway. If you look at the Ann Arbor Greenbelt Study that was completed three years ago, that group recommended that 721 N Main become a park. Whether or not that will hold depends on the size of the park you’re talking about. Part of the site isn’t in the floodway and could be built up and add to the tax base, so that may be the route the City takes.  There’s also 415 West Washington, across from the Y. City Council passed a resolution four years ago to consider the use of that property. The Arts Alliance here was interested in seeing if they could raise funds to restore the building to create an arts center. We were planning to go right through there with the Greenway. The railroad tracks gain grade at Liberty, they’re going up to go over the bridge at the river. This hasn’t been worked out yet, but the expectation is that ”¦ we would be elevated.

You should look at what the SNRE master’s project students did because that provides the best overview of what we’re thinking. They did a super job. Particularly if you look at the suggestion for the property at First and William streets – there’s a hill that goes up to Ashley and one of the students developed an idea of switchbacks so that one could ride a bike up, but off the street.  

What are the next steps for moving the project forward?

We’re working on expanding our support within the community because very few people know about it. We need to raise funds to enable this to happen. We need approval and support from City Council and the mayor to get project approved. If we had approval of the route we could approach private sources to purchase sites. There are four key sites. If we have the University and railroad on board, we’d have 90 percent of the land we need.  

How can students help and get involved?

Any number of ways. If someone was going to be here for more than a year, we need young people on the board – we need that energy and enthusiasm. If we could mobilize students within the University and had a way of getting the word out, that’s a major force. Young people really love bikes, but there have been accidents.  You can help us think – what’s a good way to get these young people involved?

We want to have a safe, legal way for people to get to athletic events. If the railway police crack-down, it’s $500 a pop. We don’t want people to have to deal with that. The railways are liable for all these things. We think there’s a better way to do it.

You can learn more about the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy and how to get involved on their website or their new Facebook page.