GREENFIELD — Hancock County Commissioners put the final stamp of approval on a year-long process of revising the county’s trails plan, designing a vision to connect each town through a robust trails system.
The commissioners unanimously approved the plan Dec. 11 following a favorable recommendation voted on last week by the Hancock County Area Plan Commission. The vision, which could last for 20 years or more, outlines multi-use trails and shared roadways stretching along roads near each Hancock County municipality. It will replace a trails plan diagrammed in the county’s 2012 comprehensive plan.
Local leaders have been discussing the plan with consultants and community members since late 2017.
Recently, rural residents have spoken out against the vision, which resulted in consultants removing sections of the trail in the western portion of Hancock County, near Mohawk. Through that process, county commissioners have reiterated their intent to not use eminent domain for the sole purpose of building trails.
