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Check out the latest routing for the Marquette Greenway from Chicago to New Buffalo (subject to changes).
The Marquette Greenway is an ambitious project. The goal is to finish a regional, non-motorized greenway which will span about 60 miles in length along the south shore of Lake Michigan from Calumet Park in Chicago to downtown New Buffalo, Michigan. Residents throughout the region have long been hoping for an uninterrupted trail connecting these three states and providing access to a wide variety of destinations along the lakefront.
See the map below for the status of the Marquette Greenway. Our team is working to fund and build ~4 miles for the Michigan portion of the trail, from the Indiana State Line to downtown New Buffalo. With Federal, State and foundation grants and municipal and public support, we have over $5 million secured to build the trail. The Pokagon Fund was the first to provide grant funding for the Michigan portion of the Marquette Greenway. Their contribution was critical in securing the Federal and State grants.
Michigan's Phase 1 portion of the trail began construction in August 2023 with AEP moving the electric poles along US12 in downtown New Buffalo. Trail construction of the Phase I started in early 2024. Phase 2 of the Michigan portion of the trail has been awarded a federal RAISE grant through our partner, Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission and is expected to be built in 2025-26.
A Ground Breaking Ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at the trailhead at Smith and Mechanic Streets in downtown New Buffalo, MI for Michigan's Phase 1 project. This first section of the trail to be built in Michigan is expected to be completed by October 2024. There are over 30 miles of trail completed in Indiana and Illinois of the 60-mile trail that will connect New Buffalo to East Chicago. Stay tuned for a ribbon cutting celebration!