For Brent McDermott, the Border to Border (B2B) Trail has been more than just a scenic path—it has been a backdrop to some of the most meaningful moments in his life. From first dates to wedding vows, career shifts to community impact, Brent’s journey is inextricably linked to the trail’s winding miles through Washtenaw County.
A Relationship Built on the Trail
Brent and his now-wife first met in the spring of 2020, a time when outdoor spaces became more valuable than ever. Their first date took place in Saginaw Forest, setting the stage for many more walks, hikes, and runs along the B2B Trail as the summer turned to autumn. As their relationship grew, so did their connection to the trail, from monitoring the construction of the Delhi Bridge to morning coffee walks at Delhi Metropark.
On October 4, 2024, the couple celebrated their wedding at the Delhi Pavilion, a location that felt like a natural choice given their love of the outdoors. Before the ceremony, they took a quiet moment to walk the newly completed section of the trail with their dog, Jasper, rehearsing their vows and soaking in the significance of the day.
A Life of Running and Giving Back
Brent first moved to Ann Arbor in 2013 on a whim, not knowing anyone in the area. One of the first places he stumbled upon was the parking lot at Bandemer Park, which ultimately led him to meet neighbors and join a local running group. The B2B Trail became a training ground, a place for connection, and a constant presence in his life. From Riverside Park out-and-backs to informal pre-Strava challenges, the trail introduced him to a vast network of fellow runners.
In 2018, he took over as race director for the Gallup Gallop, a 5K that took place exclusively on the B2B Trail. Even when he briefly moved to Massachusetts, Brent remained connected—one of the first things he did upon returning was attend the Dexter-Chelsea trail segment ribbon-cutting, deepening his commitment to the community and the trail’s future.
A Business With a Mission
As Brent’s professional life evolved, he sought to align his business with his values. In 2024, with his real estate business blossoming, he made a pledge: for every sale and commission, $250 would go directly to the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative (HWPI). His goal is to donate $6,250 in 2025 through 25 closings and ultimately reach a $10,000 contribution within three years.
[Insert picture of Brent with HWPI and check, secure original photo]
Beyond financial contributions, Brent is dedicated to rallying the community around the trail. He sponsors local athletic groups, including the Ann Arbor Triathlon Club, Velo Club, and the Huron 100 Ultra Marathon. He also hosts events like the Bandit Field Trip, on March 30, 2025. This is a point-to-point run from Argo Livery to Erratic Ale, where participants are encouraged to donate in lieu of a race fee. Learn more about that event here!
Brent believes in the power of merging private enterprise with public good. Whether through real estate, running, or community organizing, he exemplifies how one person’s passion can inspire widespread impact. As he puts it, “The quicker we can collectively finish the trail, the quicker we can overcome the obstacles in development.”
Looking Ahead
With his ever-loyal canine companion, Jasper—a 15-year-old shelter rescue from rural mid-Michigan—by his side, Brent continues to explore the trail that has shaped so much of his life. From his early days in Ann Arbor to his future plans for community impact, the B2B Trail remains at the heart of his story.
We’re grateful for trail users like Brent, who not only appreciate the beauty of the B2B Trail but also work tirelessly to enhance and expand it for future generations.
After retiring from the military after 20 years, Mike Wise and his family decided to move to north of Chelsea before they knew what a bike mecca the area would become.
“The trail development in the area has been the most amazing thing to watch unfold!”
When they bought their fixer upper home, the work ahead felt overwhelming and ambitious, but worth it. The same sentiment applied to watching the development of the B2B Trail and its future plans to connect to the DTE Foundation Trail and Mike Levine Lakelands Trail. Mike attended public sessions to learn more about the plans for the trail and it didn’t take long to see visible progress. “These trail people weren’t kidding!”
Seeing progress on the trail has stoked his enthusiasm for exploring the local area. Referencing the progress along M52 towards Stockbridge this summer, “I’m looking forward to the B2B Trail extending towards Stockbridge to connect to the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail, which is also growing to eventually connect through Hudson Mills to Dexter. This creates new, safe bike loops we couldn’t access before and whole day trips available from our doorstep without stepping into a car.”
At a ribbon cutting event celebrating the opening of the North Territorial trailhead, he met local representatives and community members excited about the potential impact on the local economy. He’s since witnessed far more mountain bikes on car racks in Chelsea, groups of cyclists heading into town for a quick bite, and hikers stocking up to explore new trails in Washtenaw County. He believes that the Border to Border Trail is the thread that ties local outdoor recreation efforts together.
Mike and his family walk, bike, or hike from the B2B Trail nearly every other day. “The Border to Border Trail created connections to a huge outdoor playground for us. It’s enhanced our whole wellbeing.” They’d watch the trail’s construction progress during the pandemic and look forward to exploring new stretches as soon as they opened.
As the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, most people retreated into their houses, Mike felt like the sense of community dropped in those first few weeks, but found he could reconnect with neighbors on the trail by social distancing and checking in on the trail’s progress which was allowing them to venture farther from their house on foot. He eventually met Lew Kidder on a socially distant walk, one of HWPI’s board members. Mike learned all about Lew’s involvement with the B2B Trail and HWPI over the years, and followed the development of the Title IX Plaza, inspired by Lew’s late wife, Karen McKeachie. Mike found inspiration in the construction workers who continued their disciplined and distanced outdoor work to complete sections of the trail. Workers who laid the asphalt, built the berms, drove the loaders, rollers, and crushers on the trail with the hazard lights on even though trail traffic was more spread out than before. While the world slowed down, the trail seemed to speed forward!
Mike appreciates the immediate impact the trail has had on his family’s emotional and physical health since the pandemic, but he also believes it may positively affect the value of homes in the surrounding area for future buyers interested in living in such an active and connected area. “The B2B Trail has delivered a quality experience that enhances our wellbeing every day. Who wouldn’t want that in their backyard?”.
Mike’s favorite access point is the North Territorial Trailhead. From there, he likes to ride into Chelsea, connect to the DTE Foundation Trails, and peek at the trail’s progress north. “Traffic is often light and always friendly in this stretch!”
The B2B Trail is constantly growing and the network of connecting trails is strengthening. For Mike, the nearest upcoming construction project will be adding 1.6 miles to the Chelsea-Stockbridge Corridor between Boyce Road and the Washtenaw-Jackson county line. Currently, the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission is coordinating with regional partners to make the connection to the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail through Jackson and Livingston Counties. They’ve completed preliminary analysis of the corridor and are working on interagency coordination and funding for next steps. Start date is contingent based on regional commitments, but with enthusiasm and support, it can be just around the bend.
B2B Trail User Spotlight: Patrick Judd
BY HWPI StaffJune 21, 2024
Around 2003, Patrick’s employer, Pollack Design Associates, was selected to design elements of the B2B Trail that stretch from Dexter to Ann Arbor ( D1 Section, known as the River Terrace Trail section). Patrick was tasked with crafting a trail user experience that brought together local ecology and local people through universal design and sustainable practices. Given the unique ecology and state protections along this segment of the Huron River, prioritizing access and connection to nature was at the heart of this project.
As an avid fly fisherman, Judd walked and waded the Huron River throughout the seasons to better understand the river, from its banks to flow to wildlife. After nearly 6 years of walking, he felt the river asked for the bridge to be placed around the first bend before entering in the main area of the Dexter Huron Metropark. This site would become the first bridge along the B2B Trail.
By boat or bike, the bridge was designed so that one would approach from direction with the end of the curve hidden from view. By spanning the shortest run between curves, the bridge is only visible as you come up to it. Judd recalls paddling this stretch and being constantly drawn to the idea that one wouldn’t spot the bridge in the distance until the first bend and it would disappear from view just as quickly as the downriver current rounded the next curve. This strategic placement creates a sense of mystery and tugs on our basic human instinct to discover what’s beyond the bend. This intentional design consideration keeps people coming back again and again to capture that sense of adventure and curiosity.
What was once an idea quickly became reality and the bridge was completed. When the surrounding area was ready for restoration, Judd broadcast seeds of native plants original to the site that he collected from before construction began. The rest of the area was filled in with native plant selections to further enhance stabilization and complemented already established flora.
Love for this bridge grew as the plants established and more miles of the B2B Trail opened to connect Dexter to Ann Arbor. When WCPARC and his firm were pulling together materials to update Washtenaw County’s 2016 Master Plan a few years later, Judd searched for imagery of Washtenaw’s many nature areas created by local artists to inspire future projects. A quick search resulted in finding an oil painting completed during the Dexter Plein Air Festival portraying Patrick’s bridge in the Dexter-Huron Metropark that matched his initial vision of the bridge’s design over ten years earlier! “Bridge Over the Huron River” by Rachel VanWylen. He knew he had found the perfect fit for the updated master plan to inspire potential partners and organizations around the beauty of our local nature areas.
That image is still used on the Dexter Huron Metropark website and continued to stick in Judd’s mind. He eventually contacted the artist, asking if they had any prints available. The Jackson-based artist never made copies of the painting in question, but the original was still available. Patrick jumped at the chance to own the artist’s interpretation of the image that resided in his mind for years and he immediately drove across the county line to acquire it.
The experience got him wondering if other artistic interpretations of this bridge existed. Following that curiosity led him to find a 10×8” piece done in watercolor pastels, but he’s still tracking down the artist to inquire about purchasing it. He patrols the internet for new works of the same subject and angle as time goes by, often finding this bridge on social media posts or as the backdrop of photoshoots. “I enjoy that others enjoy this landmark on the B2B Trail, so much so that they continually depict it from the same perspective I originally envisioned it!”
In April 2024, Judd attended HWPI’s 2024 Maps and Taps event to connect with other trail enthusiasts between the food trucks, local beer, trail maps, and activities. When he arrived at HOMES Campus, he immediately struck up conversations with HWPI and WCPARC staff, excited to learn just how much the trail had evolved on other segments of the B2B Trail. As he rounded the room, he spotted Brian Fritz, a late-addition to the event’s program who had just begun the reddish underpainting layer for a B2B Trail scene he was set to complete before the night was over. Wouldn’t you know it, the reference photo tacked to the upper right corner of the canvas was the bridge Judd designed in Dexter Huron Metropark!
What were the chances he was witnessing the creation of a painting of the same angle and perspective? Judd’s excitement was contagious. Both painter and landscape architect exchanged stories of the bridge and B2B Trail, swapping notes on best times to capture the morning light and evening shadows. Fritz, an avid cyclist who found this bridge on a long training ride, was excited to learn more about how the vision of this bridge was connected to his own interpretation taking shape in front of their eyes.
Given Judd’s ongoing search for the watercolor pastel spotted online, he knew he needed to act fast if the opportunity to acquire another artwork of the bridge presented itself. After some back and forth in the silent auction, Judd came out on top as the winner for Fritz’s live painting of the first B2B Trail bridge.
The two paintings now hang side by side in Judd’s dining room, with space enough to add the third if the watercolor pastel becomes available. If not, there is always a constant stream of creativity flowing around this bridge. Judd is confident that while he may not know what future artworks may cross his path, he looks forward to the surprise of finding how others see what’s just around the bend.
A Family on Wheels
BY HWPI StaffNovember 10, 2023
The B2B Trail hosts all kinds of bicycle enthusiasts, from local riding groups on their weekly rides to solo riders pushing the distance. You may have seen a small peloton on the trail, perhaps a tandem bike, but have you spotted the Tewari family’s seven-rider bike rig yet?!
That is precisely the contraption the Tewaris use to explore the Border to Border Trail. Parents Gabriel and Rebekah, with children Aamin 12, Isaiah 11, Timothy 9, Abel 5, and Adam 3, regularly explore the B2B by bike to experience local adventure and camping. What’s unique about their setup is that with every new addition to their family, they add a seat, carrier, or trailer to include the whole family on a single bike.
Avid bicyclists before they started their family, Gabriel grew up biking along the Huron River and has bike-toured across much of the Midwest. Gabriel hooked Rebekah into bike-touring on a tandem bicycle after getting married, and as their family grew, they added to their bike setup. After their oldest outgrew the child seat and wanted to start pedaling, they traded their tandem bike for a larger trailer and triple bike. After the arrival of their fourth child, the family voted to upgrade the triple to a quint so they could continue the “family on a single bike” adventure. They’ve added more seats to this rig by swapping cranks and chains from their collection to allow their littlest ones an opportunity to pedal like their older siblings.
Since starting their family, the B2B Trail has allowed the Tewari’s to create a stress-free family tradition centered around their passion for biking. Eliminating the worry of riding next to cars while enjoying a peaceful natural environment “allows us to relax more and have a good time with our family.” When asked about the challenges of riding such a large rig, Gabriel says, “Sharing this experience with the whole family is well worth the effort, even if it’s a beast to turn. It’s much harder to turn than a single bike – it turns like a semi-truck; but after years of working up to this length of bicycle, we’re used to it.”
As west-side Ann Arbor residents, they often ride their favorite stretch to Dexter on the weekends via Huron River Drive or Hudson Mills Metropark. A recent overnight bike trip this year pushed them beyond the normal range to discover the newest section of the B2B connecting Dexter to Chelsea. The whole family enjoyed the change of pace from bustling neighborhoods and urban hubbub to this trail segment’s scenic serenity.
“The continued expansion of the B2B Trail close to Ann Arbor has been a huge blessing to our family”, says Gabriel.
How to Build a Trail – Funding
BY HWPI StaffJune 21, 2023
For the past six years, the B2B Trail has been funded through a successful public-private partnership between the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (WCPARC), the primary public agency behind the trail, and the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative (HWPI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This unique funding model allows for WCPARC to put Washtenaw County millage dollars and state and federal grant funding towards the development of the B2B Trail. At the same time, HWPI works to raise private dollars through major donor gifts, community-based fundraising efforts, and foundation grants. In combination, the two partners raise money significantly faster than the traditional model of only using public dollars for public projects. The expedited fundraising, in turn, means faster construction of the trail, with nearly 3 times more trail built per year on average than before the partnership was formed.
Chelsea-Stockbridge Corridor
While HWPI has significantly increased the pace of fundraising – and thus construction – of the B2B Trail, public dollars still make up roughly two-thirds of all dollars spent on trail development. About one-third of overall funds come from residents of Washtenaw County, who pay the Washtenaw County Parks Millage that goes towards county parks and trails projects, including the B2B Trail, and the Washtenaw County Road Millage, twenty percent of which is dedicated to non-motorized transportation, such as trails. Combined, these taxpayer dollars amount to over $2,000,000 per year on the B2B Trail.
Of course, this money is only available if the County Parks Millage and County Road Millage are passed by voters every four years. While we are lucky enough to live in a community that values outdoor recreation and green space, every fourth election cycle is critical to ensure these dollars remain available. Both millages are next on the ballot in 2024.
The other major source of public dollars – about one-third of overall B2B Trail funds – is made up of various state and federal grants. These include, among others, various Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) grants, Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and, more recently, Federal Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF) that emerged from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Only public agencies – such as counties, cities, and townships – can apply for such grants, meaning that WCPARC as well as various cities along the B2B Trail submit applications for these public grants, often drafted with or supported by HWPI.
Private funding from HWPI provides the remaining one-third of the funds to build the B2B Trail. As mentioned above, private funding adds a unique element to trail development and expedites dollars raised and miles of trail built.
Private funding breaks down into three major categories – 1) major donors; 2) various community-based and online fundraising strategies, and 3) grants from private foundations. All sources of private funding are critical to the work of HWPI. The single largest contributor to the B2B Trail is the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, which has granted two grants to HWPI in the past five years for B2B Trail development totaling over $4M. Their amazing partnership and vision for non-motorized regional connectivity throughout Southeast Michigan is one of the significant reasons private dollars have had such an impact on the B2B Trail. Major individual donors are another reason. Since its inception, HWPI has received gifts from nearly 3,000 individual donors, with gifts ranging from 1$ to $1M. The generosity of individual residents of Washtenaw County who have donated to the trail is matched only by our community’s enthusiasm for trails, nature, environmental stewardship, and outdoor recreation. Lastly, HWPI operates numerous community-level fundraising efforts – such as beer tents and sponsorships at local running races – and online fundraising platforms, such as crowdfunding campaigns for specific B2B Trail projects and monthly giving.
Notably, nearly all of the funding for the B2B Trail – both public and private – goes directly toward trail development. This includes feasibility studies, design and construction planning and engineering, permit applications, trail construction, and trail-adjacent projects, such as maps and wayfinding systems.
While fundraising for the B2B Trail takes a lot of work by many people, it is our hope that the entire community takes pride in our local trail, which is only possible thanks to the generosity of taxpayers and donors.
