Last Night’s HWPI Public Open House A Big Success

An enthusiastic crowd of more than 50 community members packed the McKune Room in the Chelsea Library to hear about the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative. Many folks recounted personal stories to board members–including several close calls on area roadways–illustrating why they came out to support new non-motorized pathways.

Tim Eder, HWPI Vice Chair, emceed the evening and started out by showing how “The Loop” would fit into the statewide Iron Belle Trail System.

Paul Cousins shared the City of Dexter’s experiences from developing trails, extolled the ongoing benefits that Dexter has seen, and concluded with the caveat, “Provide plenty of parking!”

John Mann, President and CEO of Chelsea State Bank, one of HWPI’s first Heritage Sponsors, gave a heartfelt explanation of why it is so important to him to reinvest in the local community that has been his lifelong home.

Jeff Hardcastle, HWPI Chair, wrapped up the evening outlining the details of the first proposed trail segment to be completed, and told how many different private and public entities needed to be involved. Jeff finished with an explanation of the competitive public funding process and why broad community support is so important to the HWPI’s ultimate success.