Group hopes nature trail brings tourists to Escanaba’s Ludington Park

ESCANABA, Mich. (WLUC) - This summer, a nature trail for travelers, tourists and U.P. residents is coming to Escanaba.

Enhance Escanaba, a nonprofit volunteer organization, will build the trail in Ludington Park. The group got a $25,000 grant from America in Bloom and $25,000 in-kind donations to fund the project.

The three-quarter mile path will run along the water from the marina up past the Karas Bandshell. Natural shrubs and flowers will decorate the path and QR codes along the trail will inform walkers of plant species and local history.

“There’s lots of purple martin houses along our trails,” Enhance Escanaba President Karen Moore said “There’ll be a QR code describing those too. Our park is basically underutilized in a lot of ways and this gives people a walking opportunity closer to the water.”

Residents can volunteer to help with the trail building, especially when it’s time to plant.

“When we get to that point, we’re going to need lots of volunteers because there’s lots of spots and we have to get it done,” Moore said.

The crushed rock trail will be built in May and June. Moore says it will be a walking trail, not biking.

Requests for volunteers and project updates will be posted to the Enhance Escanaba Facebook page and the group’s website.

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