Time Magazine’s Detroit Blog finally visited the Dequindre Cut trail in Detroit.

These kinds of projects show what you can do with Detroit if you’ve got vision. And, baby, the future’s so bright…

This beauty opened in May 2009. It is formerly a Grand Trunk Western Railroad line on the city’s East side. Hence it is located below street level, giving it that peaceful, serene air. I hate to compare anything in Detroit to Chicago, but here goes. It felt similar to that lovely green stretch along Lakeshore in Chicago, where everyone strolls, jogs and bikes to distraction. It’s what “real” cities need.

Yes, it is great.

And it’s pleasantly surprising how quickly people from all over the area have learned about this trail, except for Time Magazine.

One favorite example is when Lt. Governor John Cherry opened the Detroit Greenways map and immediately asked, “Now where’s that Dequindre Cut?”

It’s just from Atwater to Gratiot, but with a bit more state money, Lt. Governor, we could extend it around the entire city.

The Detroit News ran a recent article on a $25,000 grant they gave to the DNRE. This grant is seed funding for developing another phase of Milliken State Park on the RiverWalk.

Mayor Dave Bing being accepted the grant this morning for the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor from Coca-Cola, the American Parks Foundation and the National Park Foundation as a part of the “America is Your Park” campaign. The Detroit Pistons were also represented at the event.

The plan includes redeveloping the Globe Building, a former automotive manufacturing facility across the street from the park, to construct 17,000-square-foot play area. It will include a rock climbing wall, playscape, obstacle course and a state-of-the-art archery range.

“One of the most important pieces of real estate we have in Detroit is our waterfront,” Bing said. “This riverfront is going to be a great attraction for a long time, not only for those who visit us, but for those of us who live in the city and around the city to come downtown. I feel real good about where we’re going downtown, but our communities are just as important.”

This DNRE plan is only for a portion of the Globe Building with the remainder being developed by a private developer. The playground would be both indoors and out.

The DNRE has developed a couple conceptual designs for the Globe Building. The DNRE has submitted a grant request to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to help turn this plan into reality.

These concepts would certainly add tremendous value to the Detroit RiverWalk and Dequindre Cut greenways.

Avalon Bakery in Detroit now sells Dequindre Cut Trail Mix Cookies (both vegan and not.)

They’re as awesome as the trail.

We haven’t determined just how many laps of the Cut you’ll need to ride in order to burn off a cookie — and maybe we won’t.

A couple recent items popped up on the July 27th Detroit City Council agenda that area cyclists might be interested in. Though we’re not certain that they passed, it’s likely they did since they were successfully reported out of committee.

First, a contact to purchase bus bike racks was before council.

Brown, reso. autho. Contract No. 2824443 – 20% State Funding; 80% Federal Funding – To Provide Bus Bicycle Racks, Spare Parts and Associated Hardware – RFQ #33730 Sportworks Northwest, Inc., 15540 Wood-Red Road N.E., Bldg #A-200, Woodinville, WA 98072 – Contract Period: August 1, 2010 through July 31, 2013, with Two (2), One (1) Year Renewal Options – Items (2) Unit Price: $38.00/each to $546.00/each. Lowest Total Bid – Estimated Cost: $353,999.36/Three Years – TRANSPORTATION

DDOT has said they would get bus bike racks on their existing fleet. They’re new buses already have them.

Second, and we’ve mentioned this already, but a grant application for extending the Dequindre Cut was approved by council committee.

Brown, reso. autho. Endorsing the Application to MDNRE Right of Way Acquisition. (DPW intends to submit an application to MDNRE for an amount of $500,000.00 to acquire the Right-of-Way (ROW) needed for the construction of Dequindre Cut, Phase II Project.) (REPORTED OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDING COMMITTEE 07-26-10) WAIVER OF RECONSIDERATION

This grant request would be for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, which this year is flush with money. That means it’s very likely the Dequindre Cut grant will be approved. This grant is only to acquire the right-of-way. Additional funds will be required to improve existing bridges over the Cut and to build the trail itself.

It’s only three blocks long, but it connects the Dequindre Cut to Milliken State Park and the Detroit RiverWalk.

And it’s a beautiful three blocks.

Today, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and others cut ribbons on both ends of the trail to mark the official opening of the Dequindre Trail Extension.

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy also unveiled their new banners along the Dequindre Trail and Cut. Those banners were designed by local school children and reflect a series of themes, such as “play”, “grow”, and “inspire.”