|
 The
Craig and Sue Meredith
Day Use Park and Walking Trail (formerly the
Betsie
River Day-Use Park and
Walking Trail) is a community asset that was
initially established
in the early 1990ís with
funding from the DNR Michigan Natural Resources
Fund. On
May 15, 2011, Weldon
Township signed a 15-year renewable lease with
the Michigan
Department of Natural
Resources to protect and maintain the park. In
2019 and again
in 2020, additional
funding was procured by Weldon Township from the
Michigan Department
of Health and Human
Services ó Building Healthy Communities Grants,
to enhance the
recreational
opportunities afforded by the park by creating an
approximately 0.25
mile walking and nature
observation trail. The labor for the construction
of the
trail was provided by
Seeds EcoCorps, in Traverse City. The park is an
example of
a floodplain forest
community, with some elements of hardwood conifer
swamp, shrub
thicket, and residual
effects of remote disturbance by previous
homesteading. Being
situated adjacent to the
Betsie River and surrounded by a large  area of forested
undeveloped DNR property,
the park demonstrates multiple species of flora
and fauna.
A resident wood turtle
(Glyptenys insculpta) population has been
documented in the
park for years. There are
a number of resident and migratory bird species
that can
be observed throughout
the year and a variety of insects, including
various dragonflies
and damselflies,
(odonata), and butterfly, (lepidoptera), species.
Signs of deer,
bear, and other mammals
are abundant. The park includes a
handicap-accessible walkway
to the Betsie River
with a kayak/canoe launch
site and parking for seven vehicles. There are
toilet facilities
available. The park is
within easy bicycling range of the Betsie Valley
Trail, the
Village of Thompsonville,
and Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa. Hiking, snow
shoeing,
birding, nature watching, kayaking and canoeing
are activities to be enjoyed at the
park. Hunting, fishing,
and trapping are allowed in accordance with State
of Michigan
regulations. A list of
plant species observed to date is available for
review at
the Betsie Valley
District Library in Thompsonville.
In 2023, the Weldon
Township Board renamed this Gallagher Road park
after Craig and
Sue Meredith. Craig, who
passed away in 2023, and his wife Sue, have been
long-time
supporters of
Thompsonville and Weldon Township. The board is
proud to honor them
by renaming the park. The
first photo shows Sue and their son Chris by the
new sign.
|
The
Craig and Sue Meredith
Day Use Park and Walking Trail (formerly the
Betsie
River Day-Use Park and
Walking Trail) is a community asset that was
initially established
in the early 1990ís with
funding from the DNR Michigan Natural Resources
Fund. On
May 15, 2011, Weldon
Township signed a 15-year renewable lease with
the Michigan
Department of Natural
Resources to protect and maintain the park. In
2019 and again
in 2020, additional
funding was procured by Weldon Township from the
Michigan Department
of Health and Human
Services ó Building Healthy Communities Grants,
to enhance the
recreational
opportunities afforded by the park by creating an
approximately 0.25
mile walking and nature
observation trail. The labor for the construction
of the
trail was provided by
Seeds EcoCorps, in Traverse City. The park is an
example of
a floodplain forest
community, with some elements of hardwood conifer
swamp, shrub
thicket, and residual
effects of remote disturbance by previous
homesteading. Being
situated adjacent to the
Betsie River and surrounded by a large 
