Silver Lead Creek Greenway Hub

Home of the
Little Trout Lake (LTL) Park Revival Project

Updates & Resources

Catch Up With Us!

Take a look at our newsletter updates that outline exactly what progress has been made. We outline progress, planning, and community involvement in each update. Click the date in the table to view the relevant newsletter.

Community Meetings

>>10.17.24 Presentation

Read A Newsletter Update
December 2025
October 2024
May 2024
July 2023

EVENTS

ABOUT

The Silver Lead Creek Greenway Project (SLCG) and Little Trout Lake Project (LTL) are a synergetic combination of improvements to infrastructure, access, and environment health with the purpose of enriching the lives of people in the local community surrounding the greenway and lake. The revitalization of the Silver Lead Creek Greenway and Little Trout Lake areas is inspired by the donations of our partners and the volunteer effort of the local community. These areas are centralized green space that have the bones to become a community hub. Marquette County Planning has generated and executed plans that have drastically effected the state of this natural area. Reference our updates section to gain insight into the progress made in this revitalizing project.

Project Highlights

On June 26, 2023, the Marquette County Planning Division submitted a MI DNR Spark Grant application for nearly $1M to revitalize Little Trout Lake Park in KI Sawyer. Project goals include establishing a community wellness hub at the Park.

Our Partners

Thank you to all of our community partners who have helped us bring the vision of the Silver Lead Creek Greenway to fruition, it wouldn’t have been possible without your guidance and expertise.

Marquette County Conservation District

Forsyth Snowmobile and ATV Club

Trenary Northern Trails

Forsyth Township

Sault Tribe Health Division

Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission

KI Sawyer Community Alliance

Marquette County Land Bank Authority

Trout Unlimited Fred Waara Chapter

Sawyer Operations Authority

Funding Sources

Thank you to all of our community partners who have helped us bring the vision of the Silver Lead Creek Greenway to fruition, it wouldn’t have been possible without your guidance and expertise.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources SPARK Grant

Revival of Little Trout Lake Park including facilities, utilities, and trail improvements

It's been a busy year, and Little Trout Lake Park (LTL) is looking fabulous! Construction will hibernate over the winter, and finishing touches will take place in the spring. A grand opening celebration is being planned for May/June- stay tuned. The revived LTL Park serves as a community wellness hub and trailhead for the Silver Lead Creek Greenway Trail. When you visit, you will find restrooms, picnic areas, pickleball, sand volleyball, basketball, cornhole, kids' sand and water play station, outside shower, water bottle filling station, and ADA accessible paths and features. We have beefed up security, including lights and cameras, but you are the best measure of security. Please report any suspicious or illegal activity right away by calling 911.

MDOT Shared Streets and Spaces Grant (In partnership with Marqtran)

Funded the trail connection between Little Trout Lake Park and KI Elementary school

Bus shelter installed at the Little Trout Lake Park entrance intersection

EGLE Environmental Justice Grant

Funded the nearly 2 miles of the Silver Lead Creek Greenway and residential connector trails

The Silver Lead Creek Greenway broke ground in 2025 with the intention of creating a continuous green space and non-motorized trail for KI Sawyer residents and visitors to connect to nature and each other. A total of 3.5 miles of trail was established in 2025. An additional 1.5 miles will be added in 2026, connecting the Air Force Planes Memorial to LTL Park. Signage and restoration work will resume in 2026. Have you noticed the new bridge over the SLC, the accessible pathway along Scorpion St., or the bus shelter at the LTL entrance?

USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forest Program

Let's Grow KI, in partnership with the Marquette County Conservation District and Marquette County, is launching an exciting community orchard project. The KI Sawyer Sustainable Forest (KISS Forest) is made possible thanks to funding provided by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The vision is to create a public space where food, nature, and community can connect and thrive in harmony, all within the Silver Lead Creek Greenway and along the new ADA accessible pathway between the KI Elementary School and Little Trout Lake Park.

MARQUETTE COUNTY 2040

MASTER PLAN

MARQUETTE COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Silver Lead Creek Greenway Hub

Home of the
Little Trout Lake (LTL) Park Revival Project

Updates & Resources