After three years of concentrated effort and 10 years total on the drawing board, the next phase for M-37 began Saturday.
Peninsula Township officials, residents and community members celebrated the designation of an 18-mile stretch of M-37 as a Michigan Scenic Heritage Route.
The Saturday afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony marked one milestone passed and the beginning of another journey: how to best preserve, promote and enhance the road that bisects the length of the Old Mission Peninsula. The designated road runs from Peninsula Drive to the tip of the Peninsula at Old Mission Point.
"This is really one of Michigan's crown jewels," said Pete Hanses, Heritage Route Program manager for the Michigan Department of Transportation. "In my view, the corridor is the entire peninsula -- you can take the whole peninsula and make it something really, really special, a great place to live, work and visit."
The state Legislature created the Heritage Route Program and categories for scenic, historical or recreational roads. Roads have been designated in places as diverse as Keweenaw County in the Upper Peninsula and downtown Detroit. A designation can make state and federal funds more accessible for projects.
Approved eight months ago, the stretch of M-37 is the 16th heritage designation, joining other northern Michigan roads including M-22 in Leelanau County and M-119 in Emmet County.
"This is a major step in preserving the character of the township," said Gordon Hayward, the Peninsula Township planner, who recalled that 20 years ago the township was wrestling with basic identity issues in the face of extensive development.
Hanses has worked with multiple groups as they complete the multi-year designation process.
"I've got the best job in the state," he said. "I see the passion and the enthusiasm and the focus -- you don't take 'No' for an answer and you just keep going and going until you get it."
The Old Mission Peninsula Scenic Heritage Route Committee formed three years ago and includes members representing agricultural, historical, residential, business and governmental perspectives.
"It's been a very active committee, very representative of our community," said Penny Rosi, vice-chairwoman of the committee.
Their mission revolves around the scenic, agricultural and rural nature of M-37, blending the needs and uses of disparate users. The residential south and the agricultural north share the strip of pavement that has no stoplights and very few signs as it winds through orchards and vineyards or rises to stunning views.
"That's our goal, to see that everyone benefits and that the character of the road is preserved," said Rosi.
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