Where's the Bay? Reflections on the Dedication of the Resort Bluffs Segment of the Little Traverse Wheelway June 20, 2009

It was a great day of community celebration, the ribbon cutting for the most dramatic segment of the Little Traverse Wheelway, the 1.4 miles from Bay Harbor’s East Park to Petoskey’s Magnus Park, AND the reopening of the newly redesigned and enlarged East Park.

The raffling off of two bicycles from Latitude 45 in Petoskey gave us a good idea of how many trail and park enthusiasts participated in the day. We attempted to offer free tickets to everyone and most accepted. In the end we gave away 377 chances to win. The first bike was won by a young man of about eight or nine years old. Roy Harvey, the ex Petoskey High School teacher and coach, on hand to sing the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful remarked: “perfect.” It’s likely that there were more than 400 persons in attendance since there were some who did not take a ticket.

The Petoskey High Wheelers, a group that rides bikes dating from the 1880’s to the early 1900’s, were there to explain their hobby and lead the modern riders “through the Bluffs” following the ribbon cutting. The High Wheelers’ bikes were first seen on the Wheelway in its first incarnation over 100 years ago.The ribbon to be cut proved to be very tough for cutting.

After several attempts with a pair of oversized scissors and plenty of advice and ribbing from the ribbon holders, Resort Bluffs Supervisor Bob Wheaton finally got it to give way. Major embarrassment avoided.

The day was marked by perhaps 25 or 30 persons protesting the CMS Land Company’s policies in cleaning up the limestone leachate that has contaminated parts of the resort and adjacent areas of Little Traverse Bay and had caused the closure of East Park for several years prior to this event. (CMS is the partner in Bay Harbor that accepted responsibility for the cleanup.) Protesters chatted amiably with others in the crowd as they carried signs and explained their views to those who wished to listen. Some even accepted the free tickets for the bicycle raffle. One CMS official was heard to sigh: “Only in America.”

Oh, and where was the bay? The most stupendous views of the Bay from East Park and the Wheelway were nowhere to be seen, a casualty of the fog and mist that swept gently across the scene for most of the morning.


First Photo: Two Petoskey High Wheelers talk with a modern cyclist at an overlook fifty feet above the bay. The overlook was built with funds contributed by the Rotary Club of Petoskey.

Second Photo: Resort Township Supervisor struggles with the scissors during the ribbon cutting. Among the dignitaries in the picture are Little Traverse Wheelway President Fred Fettis and Top of Michigan Trails Council President Charlie MacInnis.