[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
MILL CREEK ACCESSIBLE TRAIL
GRANT NO. 95 CE - 9.01

COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT DIVISION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
STATE OF MICHIGAN

SUBMITTED BY
MACKINAC ISLAND STATE PARK COMMISSION
MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN


FEBRUARY 15, 1996
TOTAL PROJECT
COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM               $
(Provided by the Coastal Land
Management Act of 1972 administered
by the Office of Coastal Zone Management,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.)
$74,059.07
25,000.00
MACKINAC ISLAND STATE PARK COMMISSION
$49,059.07

February 15, 1996

Mill Creek Accessible Trail
Grant No. 95 EC - 9.01

Final Report
by
David A. Armour, Deputy Director
Mackinac Island State Park Commission
Project Supervisor

Mill Creek State Historic Park, a registered National Historic
Site, is a major historic and recreational resource in Michigan.
It is located three miles east of Mackinaw City on the west side of
U.S. 23. It is the site of an early industrial complex of saw and
grist mills and agricultural activities which supported 18th and
early century development in the Mackinac Straits area.
A 25 foot bluff divides the site into lower and upper levels
of interpretive programming.  The three miles of nature trails,
including  the  interesting  beaver  dam  and  forest  management
interpretive area, parallel each side of the creek on the upper
level bluff were not accessible to people asing wheelchairs. The
buildings and trails at the foot of the bluff are accessible.

It was the intent of this project to provide handicap
accessibility to the upper nature trails. To accomplish this, an
access route up the bluf f on the east side of Mill Creek was
needed.   Tt was hoped to improve an old logging trailI cut to
lengthen the hill so that the grade of I to 20 could be achieved.

The f irst task was to select a professional designer to assess
the site and develop an access plan. Requests for proposals were
sent out to a dozen Michigan landscape design firms and six
proposals were received. Based on their extensive'experience and
also the affordable price, the firm of Design 3 of East Lansing,
Michigan was selected as the designer.
After survey of the site, it was apparent that the route which
had been initially proposed would not be feasible.  Due to the
slope of the land on the upper level, it proved impossible to
achieve the needed I in 20 rise-. Consequently a new route
paralleling the face of the bluff was chosen.  A switchback was
added to the plan to lengthen the ramp in order to achieve the
desired grade. There was, however, a benefit to the new plan in
that it eliminated most of the planned trail on the upper level
from the ramp head to the existing overlook location.   The new
location also provided a number of raised platforms which presented
I

interesting vistas of the historic mill and demonstration area.
Pressure treated wood was chosen as the material with which to
construct a hard surface ramp. The ramp was designed to provide
resting areas at the end of every 30 feet of slope. Railings were
required along both sides of the five foot wide ramp. Two inch
square balusters spaced four inches apart provided protection to
keep small children from falling through the railing.

At the three major overlooks on the ramp, benches were
constructed and spaces for future interpretive signs were
designated. The finished ramp, including the overlooks, was 337
feet long. In addition, 60 feet of wooden boardwalk led from the
upper part of the ramp across moist areas. Similarly, 100 feet of
boardwalk was necessary at the lower end of the ramp to bridge
areas where seasonal runoff water crossed the trail.

Water running from the top of the bluff where it was trapped
by heavy clays proved a major design concern. During the Spring
many small streams which run down the bluff and across the lower
level cross the route of the ramp and the approach trail. The ramp
had to bridge over these stream gullies and bridges and culverts
had to be constructed on the trail to permit the water to pass.
Moreover the access road to the east side of Historic Mill Creek
Park had to be improved with road gravel and culverts to permit
construction materials to be transported to the work site.
Because  Historic  Mill  Creek  is  a  very  significant
archaeological site whose resources are not completely known, it
was necessary to have our staff archaeologist, Dr. Lynn Morand,
monitor each area of soil disturbances. Dirt from postholes was
examined and sifted.   The project was completed with minimal
archaeological impact. Few cultural remains were recovered, and
most of those were associated with a twentieth century dump. At
the extreme northwestern edge of the affected area, some colonial
and nineteenth century artifacts, including a broken hammer from a
c.1800 British musket were recovered.

Due to the onset of winter weather and the expenditure of the
grant funds, the trail improvements were not all completed. Trail
surfacing material was stockpiled and trail signs designed. During
the winter twelve benches will be fabricated for installation in
the Spring. At that time an additional 200-300 feet of boardwalk
will be laid on the upper trail to bridge wet areas. Trail signs
will also be set in place.

When Historic Mill Creek 0-pens in May, persons with
disabilities will have access the nature trail system for the first
time.
2

Financial Summary:
Salaries
$48,910.52
Supplies, Materials and Contracts

TOTAL
25,148.55

$74,059.07
3


, 1 3 -33.0 , TUW

MILL C REE]K

14RN  DED1)

Mill Creek State Historic Park is situated                           Beaver Pond
on over 8600 acres that contain beautiful forests,
wildflowers, and scenic views, in addition to                         Footbrldge
the reconstructed sawmill.p Walng Time:
A variety of wildlfe species*                            0 Minutes
make their homes here, and
many visitors take home a
special memory of seeing	:
these creatures in natural	.--	.
surroundings.	*
es .*                               Maple Sugar Shack
..* ..,*  .
ASPEN-WILDLIFE FOREST TRAIL                          i                  Beaver Ponds ..eoeooo
explores the park's aspen forest and demon-	Beaver Damt .-
strates aspen management techniques. Look       /,     _	_ a
for ruffed grouse, woodcock and deer.                                                  ï¿½.

BEAVER POND TRAIL (Loop 3)                   . ï¿½
overlooks the structures of several
industrious families of Beaver. Be
alertfora rare glimpse of these shy
creatures.	/                  SUGAR SHACK FOREST TRAIL
Walkng Tlmne: SG Mi nutes	8winds through a beautiful hardwood forest to a
maple sugar shack, with forest management
exhibits along the way.
Footbridge
Round Trip Walklng Time:
30 Minutes

EVERGREEN TRAIL  (Loop 2)
winds along through the coolforestatthetopof
the bluff Now and then you can glimpse the
stone bedrock
Walking Time: 25 Minutes
Bh,ff----/


g         [         MdILLPONDTRAIL (Loop 1)
leads from the Visitor Center to the mill damn
and sawmill, circling the main exhibit re and
pond.                          z-'v
Footbridge                                          Walking Time: 15 Minutes

Limestone Cliff
Overlook
Mil Pond

Ramp ..,,Overlooka                                   g
*        ar
Mackinac State Historic Parks
and the Michigan Department
of Natural Resources welcome all.
Please contact us if you need further
information or accommodation.
Lake Huron



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1.
General site views of bluff and
beginning of ramp construction
2.

MILL CREEK ACCESSIBLE TRAIL






























Post hole digging
Stringers for ramp

MILL CREEK ACCESSIBLE TRAIL


















6.















6 .
Stringers in place and beginning of decking



_  NO,
Decking being put in
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MILL CREEK ACCESSIBLE TRAIL
























Handrails heing installed
Upper overlook - looking toward dam

MILL CREEK ACCESSIBLE TRAIL
9.
View of colonial barn from upper overlook





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Completed access ramp