Pictured from the left: Gary Wommer, Negaunee Township Supervisor; Kathy Peters; Bill Sanders, Sanders-Czapski; Don Britton, Chair of the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority; Ron Yesney; U.P. Trail Specialist, MDNR; Jim Brennan, IOHRA Board Member; Bob Hendrickson, IOHRA Board Member; Al Reynolds, IOHRA Board Member; Lauren Luce, IOHRA Board Member, Nick Leach, IOHRA Board Member; Rob Katona, Central UP Trails Specialist MDNR. (Submitted photo)

NEGAUNEE — The Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority on Wednesday celebrated the official opening of the newly built accessible fishing piers and weather shelters on the Carp River in Negaunee and a second weather shelter with access steps to the Pine Hill Pond in Negaunee Township.

The $234,000 project was paid in part by a $163,300 grant from the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund which provides funding for outdoor recreation projects.

The project was designed by Sanders-Czapski Associates of Marquette and built by Wuebben Construction of Dollar Bay.

Fishermen who have accessibility challenges can now use these fishing piers along an accessible trail to fish for brook trout while trail users can seek shelter from weather events through the covered shelters as well as view wildlife from the Carp River Platform.

“Our goal is to always provide better access to outdoor recreation opportunities for all abilities along the spine of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail. Our accessible trail allows anyone to use it and now they have a new destination. The Carp River wetlands offer great birding opportunities as well with American Bitterns, herons, yellow-rumped warblers, eastern Kingbirds, alder flycatchers and more. Plus the shelters provide relief during a storm. There are no public indoor spaces between the 12 miles separating Marquette Township and Negaunee along the trail,” said Don Britton, chair of the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority.

Carol Fulsher, administrator of the IOHRA added, “Some spots along the trail are just natural stopping points because of their beauty. The Pine Hill Pond in Negaunee Township offers stunning views of a greenstone bluff along with the pond and our ledgeway that skirts along the pond’s side. We wanted to provide more accessible access to the pond and provide a shelter from sun, rain, wind, lightning along a remote section of trail.

“The Carp River provides another type of beauty with the Carp winding through a stunning wetlands teeming with birds.

“The new platform and fishing piers are natural additions and blend in with the landscape quite nicely. We thank Sanders-Czapski for their magical vision.”

For more information on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail Weather Shelters and Fishing Piers, contact Carol Fulsher at 906-235-2923.