Kent Trails is a fifteen mile rail trail

Rail trail

A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...

 in Kent County, Michigan

Kent County, Michigan

-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...

 that runs through the cities of Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...

, Grandville

Grandville, Michigan

Grandville is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 16,263 at the 2000 census. Grandville is one of the oldest suburbs of Grand Rapids, and was incorporated as a city in 1933....

, Walker

Walker, Michigan

Walker is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Grand Rapids. The population was 23,537 at the 2010 census. Before incorporating as a city, it was known as Walker Township...

, Wyoming

Wyoming, Michigan

Wyoming is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 72,125. That makes it the 2nd largest community or city in West Michigan, the 14th largest city in the state of Michigan, and the 18th largest community in the state as well...

 and Byron Township

Byron Township, Michigan

Byron Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 17,553.- Communities :...

and is part of a network of trails in and around Grand Rapids. It runs north and south from John Ball Park

John Ball Park

John Ball Zoological Garden is an urban park located on the west side of the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. The John Ball Zoo is situated on the ravines and bluffs along the west edge of the park....

 in Grand Rapids to 84th Street in Byron Township, with an extension that runs east/west along 76th Street and north/south from 76th Street to Douglas Walker Park on 84th Street.

History

In June 2008, a new trail was built along the M-6

M-6 (Michigan highway)

M-6, or the Paul B. Henry Freeway, is a freeway and state trunkline highway in the United States that serves portions of southern Kent and eastern Ottawa counties south of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although the freeway is named for Paul B. Henry, local residents and the press continue to use the...

 freeway that connects the Paul Henry Rail Trail

Paul Henry Rail Trail

The Paul Henry Rail Trail is a rail trail in Kentwood, Michigan. Originally running from 44th Street and Kalamazoo in a southeasterly direction to 60th street, the trail now connects with both the Thornapple Trail and Kent Trails. It has a wide paved surface. It is part of the North Country...

 and Thornapple Trail

Thornapple Trail

The Thornapple Trail is the abbreviated name for the a partially completed Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail in west Michigan. The Middleville portion is being connected to the Kent County section which will eventually link to Kent Trails...

s with Kent Trails.

In 2009, a six mile stretch of the trail from Grand Rapids to Byron Township was repaved and widened from 8 feet to 10 feet. Three bridges along the trail were also replaced with new, wider bridges.