History of the WMTA
 
       In late fall of 1998, a small group of avid horsemen (and women) approached the Huron Clinton Metropark Authority regarding the establishment of equine trails at the Wolcott Mill Metropark.
       Meetings were held with the chief planner of HCMA to ensure that the trail system would  not adversely affect the environment of the park and would meet the requirements of the  master plan. After almost 14 months of discussion and meetings with various officials,  the park finally gave the authority to begin developing the trail system. The trail system     was officially opened with a ceremony on Memorial Day weekend of 2000.

       The first venture was five miles of trails that follows the Clinton River and lays adjacent to planted fields, which are still leased for farming. With the exception of a few wooded trails,  the trails at Wolcott were designed to be wide enough to handle horse drawn carriages, making our trail system unique in southeastern Michigan.

     By 2003 an additional five miles was completed, making a total of ten miles trails that are available for riding, driving, hiking and cross country skiing. No bicycles or and    motorized vehicles are allowed on the trails. The HCMA has provided a first class bathroom facility that remains open year round.
     The Wolcott Mill Trail Association was incorporated in December of 1999 and the club held an organizational meeting and began accepting memberships in March of 2000 the club, and its members, are solely responsible for the development and all maintenance on the trail system. Work bees are scheduled throughout the year to  perform maintenance and the mowing of the trail is completed by a few members who volunteer their tractors and time. All club events are open to non members.
     The club hosts two riding events (with luncheon) each year as fund raising activities. An educational and fun event is our Trail Obstacle Day, held every August. At the event horses are introduced and worked through a variety of obstacles, some of which can be a real nightmare!
      A Christmas potluck party is held each December and a wonderful time is had by everyone. Membership in the organization is $15 for individuals, $20 for family and trail sponsorship is $100. In addition to the normal trail maintenance, the club has built shed for storage of equipment, purchased a brush hog, built a scenic fence at the river overlook, erected an "engraved" fence that delineates the staging area, installed various culverts to divert water for trail drainage, installed trail marker posts and signs, constructed a trail sponsor sign for trail contributors, installed tie posts at the staging area, purchased gravel and various equipment needed to tree trimming with the club treasury.
      And although membership is not a requirement to ride the trails Wolcott, what better way can a person express their appreciation for the availability and convenience of having equine trails in Macomb County?

Home