Orion Township Gets $825,948 Grant for Boardwalk on Maybee Road
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 7, 2025)
Orion Township, MI – Orion Township has been awarded a $825,948 Transportation Improvement Program (TAP) grant to support the construction of a nearly 0.25-mile, 8-foot-wide boardwalk and 120 feet of sidewalk along Maybee Road between Baldwin and Dixie Hwy, connecting to the Iron Belle Trail in both Orion and Independence Townships.
The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) administers funds for the TAP program, which is federally funded and intended to create more connected pathways for pedestrians and cyclists as well as improved access to parks, schools, neighborhoods, and other community destinations. In this case it also connects trails in the community, fitting in with SEMCOG’s larger connectivity goals.
“When we do a project, we don’t just think about that project, we think about what that project means for the region,” said SEMCOG Director Amy O’Leary.
O’Leary visited Orion Township Hall on Tuesday to present a giant check to local officials. She commended Orion Township Supervisor on his history of working with SEMCOG, where he previously served as Chairperson. Barnett is also on deck to be Chairperson of National Association of Regional Councils.
Barnett talked about the challenges of connectivity. “We’ve got 42 lakes and 36 square miles,” he said. That is good news and bad news, with the bad news being “it’s challenging to build anything.”
While the Township has been investing in safety paths, “The part we didn’t build was the expensive part,” the Supervisor said. The stretch covered by the grant has the challenges of curvy dirt roads, an abundance of nature, and even a pond abutting the roadway.
Director of Parks, Recreation, & Facilities for Orion Township Aaron Whatley said “SEMCOG has been such an amazing partner for the Township.” He also credited the team at Orion Township that works to put grant applications together and get such projects implemented.
“We will continue to build safe pathways while taking care of our natural resources,” Whatley said.
Identifying funding is an early step in a long process. Plans must comply with many levels of environmental requirements due to the wetlands in the area. They must do soil testing, wetland delineation, and permitting through the EPA and MDOT before even the possibility of construction, which could begin in 2027 if everything goes smoothly.
Learn more about TAP grants at the SEMCOG website https://www.semcog.org/transportation-alternatives-program-tap
Learn more about Orion Township at https://www.oriontownship.org
