Collaboration is at the heart of this effort. Through an innovative partnership, both Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails (TART Trails) and Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC) are working in close cooperation with local, state, and tribal governments to close the 45+ mile gap between the Little Traverse Wheelway in Charlevoix and the TART Trails’ network in Acme. By closing this gap, the landmark trail will create a continuous 415+ mile trail network, including a connection to the statewide Iron Belle Trail, helping Michigan continue to lead the nation as “The Trails State.”
TART Trails and TOMTC have long, successful histories creating and caring for trails— TART Trails in the Grand Traverse and Leelanau area, and TOMTC across northern Michigan from Charlevoix to Alpena and Otsego to Mackinaw City. TART Trails, TOMTC, government and community partners are collaborating on fundraising, designing, and developing the trail and its long-term maintenance.
This project builds on the vision of more than a decade of community groups working to make trail connections throughout this corridor.
Nakwema Trailway Project Team
Elizabeth Calcutt | Nakwema Trailway Project Manager and Trail Development Director at TART Trails
Elizabeth is part of the trail planning and management team managing multiple projects including the Nakwema Trailway. She brings a background in recreation planning and community development, and now, as a member of the TART Trails team, she is excited to engage with people and communities in our region to help build meaningful trail connections. Elizabeth loves all that each season brings us (with the exception of November winds and April showers) and cannot think of a better place to live, work, and play.
Amy Hartzog | TART Trails Trail Planner
Amy joined the TART staff in October 2021, as part of the Trail Planning Team. She’s been visiting the area with her wife for the last 21 years and has family near Glen Arbor and in Traverse City. Her work experience includes over 10 years with the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana’s Trails and Greenways Department managing the maintenance of trails, working with an army of volunteers, encouraging active transportation and event planning. She appreciates opportunities to apply her knowledge to the Nakwema Trailway. Outside of work, you can find Amy exploring the area on bike, foot, skis or canoe.
Julie Clark | TART Trails CEO
Julie has a long history in trail planning and development working on local, state, and national trail efforts throughout her career. Her background in ecology and communications and her passion for helping people explore, enjoy, and enrich their community is put into practice every day as the CEO of TART Trails. Julie provides leadership and oversees the delivery and execution of TART Trails’ vision of happy, active people making connections through a world-class trail network. Active in trail development efforts and policies at the local, regional and state level, she currently serves on the Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee and as Chair of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.
Casey Ressl | TART Trails Development Director
Casey joined the TART Trails staff in 2018 and is responsible for developing and overseeing TART’s fundraising strategies. Casey grew up in Traverse City exploring the exceptional rivers and trails of northern Michigan. She traveled back to the area as an AmeriCorps member and spent the last decade working in the nonprofit sector. She now resides downtown with her husband and three children where she enjoys spending time on the trails, in the water and exploring the garden.
Brent Bolin | Top of Michigan Trails Council Executive Director
As Executive Director, Brent leads TOMTC’s work Advocating, Maintaining and Promoting trails in Northern Michigan. He comes to us from a long career in clean water advocacy, most recently as Regional Director with the national non-profit organization Clean Water Action. His wife Danielle is a Northern Michigan native and they are excited to have realized their dream of living in Petoskey. Away from the office Brent enjoys playing ice hockey and trying to keep up with his son David on hiking, biking, and camping adventures.
Becca Nelson | Top of Michigan Trails Council Associate Director
As Associate Director, Becca works on the coordination of programming for the Top of Michigan Trails Council. Joining the team in 2019, her favorite activity on the trails is running. She is a Petoskey native who found herself returning to the area many times over, and is excited to combine her love of trails with the vitality of the area she feels lucky to call home. When not at work she can be found exploring with her husband, Trevor, and dogs, Clara and Lentil, paddle boarding, reading, or making a mess in the kitchen, loving to both cook and bake.
