On Wednesday, Sept. 2, a line of bicyclists, runners and walkers broke through ribbons stretched across a new strip of asphalt in Grand Blanc Township. The trail they opened is 1.3 miles long. It starts at Cook Road and South Dort Highway, runs east to Embury Road, then turns north to Grand Blanc Road.
The trail runs under I-75 and connects the Dort Highway trail to Grand Blanc Road. Genesee County View's headline said it "fills gap in trail network." With the connector open, the Dort Highway trail, the Grand Blanc Road path and the path to Creasey Bicentennial Park now work as a single route. The north end of that route sits on the corner where Anna's House has set its opening date.
A Crossing That Took Ten Years
Genesee County View reported that the Embury-Cook connector had been in the works since 2016. Over that time, township and county officials put together funding from several sources. The project cost about $2.1 million:
| Funder | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Michigan Department of Transportation, Transportation Alternatives Program grant | $1,186,200 |
| C.S. Mott Foundation, through its countywide Legacy Trails commitment | $330,000 |
| Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Trust Fund grant | $300,000 |
Those three grants add up to roughly $1.8 million of the $2.1 million total. Under the Mott Foundation's Legacy Trails commitment, the Embury-Cook route counts as one link in a countywide network. Genesee Trails lists it as part of that system.
At the dedication, Township Supervisor Scott Bennett described the trail in the same terms, according to Genesee County View:
"Another important connector in a much larger network, not only in our community, but all of Genesee County."
The same report quotes Ridgway White, president and CEO of the C.S. Mott Foundation, calling the trail an "amazing example" of communities working together toward a shared goal. County Commissioner James Avery, who represents the 5th District, called it another piece of a puzzle for the county's 180,000 residents.
The Route, South to North
The township's draft parks plan describes each segment. Put together in order, they make one continuous trip:
- Dort Highway Trail. A shared-use path along South Dort Highway between Baldwin Road and Cook Road. It has a trailhead parking area, so this is the obvious place to leave a car.
- Embury Cook Trail. From Cook Road east to Embury Road, then north under I-75 to Grand Blanc Road. This is the new segment.
- Grand Blanc Road Trail. A path on the north side of Grand Blanc Road. Heading west takes you into the City of Grand Blanc. Heading east takes you to Creasey Bicentennial Park.
- Creasey Bicentennial Park Trail. A separated path from the park to Grand Blanc West Middle School, running from Reid Road to Hill Road.
You can do the route as an out-and-back from the Dort Highway trailhead to Saginaw Street, or as a loop through Creasey Bicentennial Park. The township's bike paths map was revised in August 2026, and the township notes it is meant for visual reference only.
What Waits at the Saginaw Street End
Where the Grand Blanc Road path meets Saginaw Street, the corner is about to change. ABC12 reported that Anna's House picked Oct. 26 to open its new location in the former Big Boy Restaurant at Saginaw Street and Grand Blanc Road. It will be the chain's 14th Michigan restaurant and its first in Grand Blanc.
The restaurant started in West Michigan and serves breakfast, brunch and lunch from scratch. WNEM reported that the menu includes gluten-free and allergy-friendly choices plus vegetarian and vegan dishes, along with a full brunch and cocktail program. The company expects to hire up to 60 people. In the same report, CEO Josh Beckett said, "We're excited not only to open our doors, but to create new jobs and become an active part of the Grand Blanc community." The restaurant posts progress updates on its Facebook page, and that's the best place to check before planning a ride around brunch.
Two places already open on South Saginaw are also worth knowing:
- Sophia's Kitchen at 11395 S. Saginaw serves dine-in. Its website lists two sets of hours, a regular schedule and a temporary daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. schedule, so call ahead for a late-afternoon stop.
- Little Joe's Tavern at 11518 S. Saginaw St. posts hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and takes online pickup orders.
Where the Network Still Stops
The I-75 connector closed one gap. Three other projects decide how far the route will reach next. Each status below is the latest one published:
| Segment | What it would connect | Latest published status |
|---|---|---|
| Perry Road final link | Existing path near Mancour Drive to Grand Blanc Middle School, including a 58-foot, 10-foot-wide bridge over Thread Creek | Targeted late summer 2026 in a March 28 report |
| Iron Belle Trail, Phase 2 | 2.5-mile path linking Grand Blanc Township and Atlas Township | "Plans and specs approved. Delays with TAP funding," per the state's Aug. 19, 2026 report |
| Baldwin Road Trail | South end of the Dort Highway trail east along Baldwin Road, toward Tech Village and Saginaw Road | In planning; currently stops short of the I-75 overpass |
The Perry Road link and Iron Belle Phase 2 are tied together. The Iron Belle bicycle route runs 791 miles from Belle Isle in Detroit to Ironwood. In Grand Blanc Township it follows Perry Road east, then turns north along the Lake State Railway corridor. The Atlas Township side, Phase 1, was finished in August 2024. When the township launched its "Pathway to Community" campaign, rising construction costs had left Phase 2 $758,000 short. The township set up a designated fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and put in $50,000. Donations go through cfgf.org/ironbelletrail. On Aug. 19, Genesee County approved a $401,650 increase for Phase 2 construction-engineering services. That approval funds the work of overseeing construction. It doesn't mean the trail has opened.
Creasey Bicentennial Park, at the east end of the Grand Blanc Road path, is also partway through a $1.2 million upgrade. ABC12 reported that the plan includes a redesigned roadway and parking lot with 317 spaces, 13 of them accessible, plus new 8-foot paths linking parking to the pavilions, the playground and the existing multi-use trail. It also covers a renovated South Pavilion and a family restroom with a universal changing station. Funding comes from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a HUD grant and the township's parks and recreation millage. The township's July 2026 newsletter said road, parking and restroom work was underway, and the parks department has promised updates on any road closures. If you're starting from the park, check those updates before you go.
The Next Five Years of the Map Are Open for Comment Until Nov. 8
The township's draft 2027–2031 Parks and Recreation Master Plan describes all of these segments. It is in a 30-day public review period that opened Oct. 9 and closes Nov. 8, 2026, at 5 p.m. The draft plan is posted on the township's 5 Year Master Plan page, and you can read a printed copy at the Township Hall General Office during regular business hours.
There are two ways to comment, according to the township's notice:
- Call the Parks and Recreation Department at 810-694-0101.
- Send written comments to Parks and Recreation, 5371 S. Saginaw Rd, Grand Blanc, MI 48507.
With the Embury-Cook link in place, the plan's remaining trail entries show which way the network could grow next: south along Baldwin Road toward Tech Village and Saginaw Road, or east over Thread Creek toward Atlas.
The Shane Adams Group is based in Grand Blanc, and we follow projects like the Embury-Cook connector because they change how the township works day to day. If you want to talk about how the trail network and the Saginaw Street corridor fit into your plans for the area, Contact Us.
