In this portion of my Lansing River Trail Trail (LRT) journey I start in Municipal Lot 56 in Old Town heading south along the east and then west bank of the Grand River into downtown Lansing and stop just north of the Michigan Avenue bridge.

Section Overview

My second portion of the LRT transitions from a mixture of mid-density residential near the Turner Dodge mansion, and urban retail in Old Town into the thoroughly urban core of Lansing. Municipal Lot 56 provides convenient parking though it is a paid lot. Although the trail requires a temporary bypass because of work on the Brenke Fish Ladder. I proceeded south along the east bank of the Grand River. The trail then snakes its way along the river bank tucked behind commercial and manufacturing properties. Eventually, crossed to the west bank of the grand river at the Adodo Park pedestrian bridge and proceeded into downtown Lansing. I concluded my walk at the former Ottawa Street Power Station building.

Section Commentary

Much of this portion of the trail runs along boardwalks or directly next to the river. As I’ve progressed further along the trail I’ve missed the river vistas. It’s also predominately an urban environment. Particularly around Adado Park you can see what a fantastic piece of land the park resides on, and why it is a great space for community programming. Inevitably because it is a densely populated urban public space I also encountered unhoused people. I was intrigued to encounter what I assume were sculptures created by people living in the park. Lansing, like many cities, has failed to house everyone that looks to the region for economic security and belonging. This section of the LRT also featured some fun trail art (found in the pictures below). The Ottawa Street Power Station building, like several other Board of Water and Light (BWL) buildings stands as a towering Art Deco inspired structure. The opulence evoked by the art deco styling projects a confidence and comfort with visibility from a public utility that I find lacking in many of our current institutions that make civic life and prosperity possible.

As an introduction to Lansing’s urban core I am thankful that the city maintains pedestrian and bike exclusive pathways that make encountering the city a much more pleasant experience than from a hermetically sealed vehicle driving through town.

Section Photos

I start my exploration of the Lansing River Trail (LRT) at its northern terminus in Dietrich Park, and work my way down to the portion of the trail that runs through Old Town.

Trail Overview

Vehicle parking at Dietrich Park is within view of Olympic Broil, an old-school drive-in burger joint known for their (mid-michigan originating) olive burgers. The trail quickly crosses Grand River avenue, and climbs sharply up to the Turner-Dodge House before slowly descending onto a boardwalk that runs south along the Grand River’s east bank, and under the César E Chávez Street bridge in the heart of Old Town. I concluded this section just beyond the Brenke Fish Ladder in Burchard Park. From the location I stopped one can just see the Boji tower in downtown Lansing.

Section Commentary

As a first taste of the LRT this section provides a robust sample of the types of walking/running/biking experiences found along the trail collectively. The trail changes elevation rapidly, which provides a good workout regardless of your pace. The Grand River itself features prominently, one encounters historical landmarks, and the trail includes easy access to a commercially diverse neighborhood. As the trail progresses southward the walking environment becomes more dense urban landscape. The trail also continues to hug the grand river closely for the next couple of sections. You get a little taste of everything that can be experienced further along the trail with the satisfaction that you’re doing your body some good navigating the terrain.

Section Photos

I took few photos on this section of the trail, I wasn’t sure at this point if I was really going to try and walk the entire trail and as I have progressed I’ve gotten more enthusiastic about documenting my experience!

Lansing River Trail Intro

I don’t think the Lansing River Trail gets the enthusiastic universal acclaim that it deserves. As someone who has lived in Mid Michigan since 2017 it has been a best kept secret I have yet to explore.

As a means of motivating me to prioritize some mental and physical well-being this summer I am going to walk sections of the Lansing River Trail and blog about it.

In each post I’ll provide some overview of the trail portion I walked, provide a bit of commentary of the experience, and provide some photos. My hope is that if you live in Mid Michigan it will encourage you to get out and use this fantastic public resource, and if you aren’t in Mid Michigan provide an additional reason to come visit!

River Trail Overview

A vision for the Lansing River Trail began to appear in city master plans in the 1970s with initial portions of the trail opening in 1975. Federal Department of Interior recognition was gained in 1981 and the largest portion of mileage was added in 1983. Steady improvements and expansion have continued through to the present. A more detailed history of major milestones can be found here. The trail’s history stands as a triumph of successful long term urban planning effort that has included private, municipal, county, and state cooperation.

The trail borders the northern trunk of Grand River Avenue that bypasses Old Town, to slightly south of Jolly road. The eastern edge of the trail runs between Pennsylvania and Aurelius roads following Sycamore creek. The western edge of the trail follows South Waverly Road until it reaches the Grand River and then follows the river northeast towards Frances Park. There are “branches” off the primary trail that extend east thru Michigan State University and ultimately terminates at Lake Lansing, and south into the Holt/Delhi Township interurban trail system. In what I assume is a frustrating reality for city planners, the trail remains an incomplete loop (though there are ambitious plans to complete the loop.)

In practice, the LRT is a green necklace draped across the urban and suburban landscape which interconnects several Lansing parks.

What to expect

I will be starting from the northern terminus of the trail and working my way clockwise towards Francis park. I may also explore some of the LRT’s branches and push further into the Meridian and Delhi Township trail systems once I complete the LRT.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you and I welcome your comments or suggestions as I make my way along the trail. Happy walking!