Green the Way: Moving Forward on an Allen Creek Trail

Abstract

A downtown trail or ‘greenway’ along the route of Ann Arbor’s Allen Creek/railroad corridor was first purposed over thirty years ago. Our challenge was to move this idea from a fuzzy concept into possible design alternatives while engaging a diversity of community members in the conversation. In Fall 2014, the team (12 graduate students and 2 faculty members) worked closely with the City of Ann Arbor and the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy to undertake this challenge. In the process, team members operated information stations at popular community venues, attended neighborhood meetings, launched a youth art competition, and administered an on-line survey. In the process, over 800 different residents shared their ideas. Our analysis revealed a wide range of motivations for an Allen Creek trail, including facilitating recreational and commuter use, connecting neighborhoods and downtown, mitigating flooding and stormwater issues, and enhancing quality of life. The final presentation, at the Main Branch of the Ann Arbor Public Library, was open to the public and over 120 people attended. This document summarizes our process and recommendations.