MARQUETTE — The Marquette Area Chapter of the North Country Trail Association has had a project on its to-do list for many years: build a 500-foot boardwalk through a traditionally swampy area south of the Jeske Flooding parking area, which remains wet year-round.

This is the year to complete it, thanks to significant help from Lowe’s of Marquette.

“The staff at Lowe’s is bending over backwards to help us. It is exceptional,” said MAC Trail Crew Leader Brad Slagle in a press release.

“They are providing excellent bulk pricing and are supporting us in other ways, such as donations of Gatorade, water and tools to help us get the job done. This is another great partnership to benefit the North Country Trail.”

Slagle said the project materials must be transported more than a quarter mile from a road to the construction location.

This is being done by hand and wagon with the help of a Youth Corps crew. Child and Family Services provides employment for young adults in support of maintaining trails all over Michigan.

The NCT is the longest of the National Scenic Trails, spanning 4,800 miles across eight states, from North Dakota to Vermont. Its signature blue blazes on trees in most sections make it easy to navigate.

The Marquette Area Chapter builds and maintains 120 miles of the NCT, from the Long Lake Outlet just west of Craig Lake State Park to Rock River Road in western Alger Country.

Pictured in the left photo are, from the left, MAC Trail Crew Leader Michael Sekely, Lowe’s Hardware and Tools Department Manager Abbey Cameron, and Slagle. Pictured in the right photo are Youth Corps crew members on a portion of the new boardwalk.