Thursday, April 30, 2020

Explore The Trail System in Jackson.  Trails Walking, hiking, biking and snowshoeing are only a few of the ways you can make use of Jackson’s abundance of trails. Jackson’s trails give you a hundred great excuses to get out and experience nature in its purest form.

 Falling Waters Trail, an integral part of the statewide proposed Iron-Belle and Great Lake to Lake Trails. Placed where Michigan Central Railroad once stood, the Falling Waters Trail is a 10.6-mile linear park connecting the Village of Concord to the City of Jackson.  Next, the Falling Waters Trail continues for 3.4 miles as the Martin Luther King Equality Trail, formerly the Inter-City Trail, from Jackson’s Weatherwax Drive to Morrell Street. And finally, the Grand River Arts Walk leads walkers, joggers and cyclists from Downtown Jackson through the Arts District and onto Monroe Street.

Waterloo Recreation Area, the largest state park in the lower peninsula, contains enough trails to last a lifetime. 47 miles of hiking trails,12 miles of interpretive nature trails, and another 12 miles of equestrian trails are all nestled within 20,000 acres of protected forest.

The MacCready Reserve, south of town, includes 6.5 miles of dog-friendly trails among 400 acres of lush forest environment.

The Dahlem provides five miles of diverse trails. Walk among forests, fields, marshes and ponds, including a ⅜-mile trail for those with limited mobility, called the “The Nature For All Trail”. Trails are open year-round and they’re ideal for birding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or simply exploring nature.

Check out Experience Jackson’s list of State, County, and City Parks.

Red Cross Blood Drives. The American Red Cross has an ongoing critical need for blood and platelet donations amidst coronavirus uncertainties.  You can make an appointment to give blood or platelets at redcrossblood.org

May 11:  First Presbyterian Church, 743 West Michigan, Jackson.11:00 AM – 04:45 PM

May 14:  Michigan Center High School, 400 S. State Street,

Michigan Center.  08:30 AM – 02:15 PM

May 22:  Blackman Township Hall, 1990 W. Parnall Road, Jackson. 

12:00 PM – 05:45 PM

The American Red Cross faces a severe blood shortage due to the coronavirus outbreak prompting an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations. This shortage is part of a national situation. Even the U.S. Surgeon General has noted the critical need. “You can still go out and give blood. We’re worried about potential blood shortages in the future. Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams.  Healthy individuals are needed to donate to help patients counting on lifesaving blood. Donating is a safe process with numerous precautions regularly in place. Please visit www.redcrossblood.org to learn more or to schedule an appointment.