The North Bank Trail (NBT) is a proposed 18 mile non-motorized, multipurpose pathway located generally along the former Grand Trunk Railroad that extends from Spring Lake to Coopersville. The proposed path would connect the east end of the Village of Spring Lake Bike Path to the east end of the Musketawa Trail and serve as a regional link between the beaches of Grand Haven/Spring Lake area and the Grand Rapids metro area.

The Plan

A committee has been formed including members of the City of Coopersville DDA, Coopersville City Council, Coopersville Rotary, and representatives from Polkton and Wright Township, as well as interested members of the community. 
The trail is proposed to be on an easement purchased by the DNR in 2015 from the Coopersville Marne Railway. The easements follows the railroad tracks from 80th avenue to the Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail in Kent County. 96th Avenue to 80th Avenue is still under review with a couple of different scenarios. We are also working with Crockery Township as they work to bring the trail from 112th Avenue to 96th Avenue. 

The Funding

 The Rotary of Coopersville is our fiduciary partner in order to reduce administrative and overhead costs. All funds are reserved and used solely for trail development, engineering, maintenance and informational needs.

Fundraisers will be hosted throughout the year as we work to raise money, especially when we get begin filing for the TAP grant and need to find matching funds. 

To Make a Donation you can mail a check, made payable to Coopersville Rotary (Memo Note: North Bank Trail) Mailed to: 289 Danforth, Coopersville MI 49404

The Progress

This project isn't going to be done over night. It will be a few years in the making, but it will be well worth it! Here's a few current highlights:

-in 2015 the DNR purchased 3 separate easements from the Coopersville Marne Railway

- in 2019 a short section was completed on the Coopersville School Campus to connect to their community trails around their pond

- July 2022 Treeworks, Inc cleared the future trail on the railroad tracks from 64th to 80th Avenue. At 64th Avenue there is a small jaunt off to the side of the railroad bed because a train car is still sitting on the tracks there. 

- July 2022 Prein and Newhof was hired to begin preliminary estimates on the trail

- October 2022 - Safe Routes To School Grant process began, Beer, Wine and food tasting fundraiser held at 306 Main Street

-Summer of 2023 - Funds raised through 50/50 ticket sales at Music on Main

October 2023 - Safe Routes to School Grant Application turned in

October 26, 2023 - Beer, Wine and Food Tasting Fundraiser at the Downtown Coopersville Train Station 

Fall of 2023 - Cost Estimates from Prein and Newhof for 96th Ave to 80th Ave on the Cleveland ROW and 80th Ave to 48th Ave