The Escanaba City Council heard competing public testimony and an ethics complaint on May 1 over a proposed nature trail in Ludington Park, but did not approve the agreement and took no final action.

Supporters, led by representatives of the nonprofit Enhanced Escanaba, described a roughly three‑quarters‑of‑a‑mile crushed‑limestone trail along the waterfront, planting of shrubs and trees, QR‑coded interpretive plaques, two curb cuts for wheelchair access and volunteer maintenance. “This will be a wonderful tourist attraction,” said Gina R. N., a board member of Enhanced Escanaba. She said the group worked with the park superintendent and public works staff on placement and maintenance plans.

Opponents raised cost and upkeep concerns and questioned the nonprofit’s role. “It all started with the master gardeners hanging baskets … and now the nature walk — all costing those taxpayers more money every year,” said Anne Fix, who identified herself as an Escanaba resident and said ongoing watering and pruning costs have risen.

A public commenter, Tyler Anthony, urged the council to reject the agreement and said the situation raised legal and charter concerns, alleging that “a member of the council is negotiating a contract relating to a business entity in which the member has a personal interest.” The complaint cited the state ethics acts of 1968 and 1973 and chapter 14 of the city charter as the legal basis for the objection.

The council heard that the Recreation Advisory Board had considered the project and, because of membership absences and an abstention, recorded a 2–1 result that did not constitute a majority favorable vote. Council members and staff clarified that the rec board vote reflected its quorum and voting rules.

Representatives from conservation and trails groups also spoke. Michael Sigorski, treasurer of the Delta Soil Conservation District, said the district provided an in‑kind map for the project after a prior employee’s commitment and that the district had fulfilled its contribution. Mike Verhamey, vice president of Delta County snowmobile and motorized trails, said crushed limestone has advantages for maintenance and offered volunteer maintenance support from his club if the city moves forward.

Councilors asked for clarifications about accessibility, maintenance responsibilities, and the sources of in‑kind support and questioned whether the group’s offers of maintenance would persist over time. Enhanced Escanaba said it plans volunteer upkeep and cited prior inclusion of a nature trail in the city’s five‑year recreation plan; the group said they have budgeted for two curb cuts required for full ADA access.

No council motion was made to approve the nature trail agreement. The mayor stated, “I’m not hearing a motion to approve the agreement. We have no agreement,” and the meeting moved to other agenda items.

The record at the meeting shows both explicit support from multiple local organizations and explicit objections about maintenance cost and a potential conflict of interest involving a council member. The council did not adopt or reject the proposed agreement on May 1 and did not schedule additional action on the item during that meeting.