“One voice breaks the silence with a clear sound of reason. Many voices together reaches a crescendo that changes the world.”

Thanks to the heroes below who are willing for their voice to be heard.

Will you add your voice to the growing crescendo?

Ruthanne Tietsort - Not all "improvements" are worth the destruction they create. The investment is loss of natural habitat and a short but soon forgotten profit to those hired to do the project. It seems this is purely profit driven.

Tori Kurtzhals - Construction of any kind is a major threat to these fragile ecosystem and therefore, should not be permitted.

Michael Montague - Please stop this trail and leave nature alone!

Brandon Robbins - Keep it natural

Michele Talcott - It is so beautiful! Why would you want to pave paradise and put up an asphalt trail. We need to protect this land at all costs

Jason Carroll - Stop destroying land. You people are making this country look like crap

Daniel Walker - Disguising destruction of habitat as a way to “bring the joy to everyone” while literally taking it away is not okay

Sarah Smith- This is an absolute terrible idea. Just think about all the animal habitats that you will be destroying. We need to coexist with them. Humans need to be more considerate of how their actions affect animals. Would you like it if someone bulldozed your house down? I don't think so

Michele Stark- Please keep the wild, wild.

Zoe Melcher - I might not live near by, but Sleeping Bear is not only a place I travel to to share the magnificent view with friends, family, or loved ones. But ots also a bit part of my heart. My grandmother is a dance teacher, and for year would share the story of Sleeping Bear with the next generations. We would r eady from the book, we would dance out the story, and put on a big play for our families. What is trying to be done, is rip a part out of every ones heart that live there, have ever visited, want to visit, and the kids who read the story growing up. This project is not an advancement, its destruction.

Elizabeth Yelland - Beautiful nature should be left as is. Take only photos, leave only footprints.

Laura Pearson - Leave it as is!

Timothy Red - Don't do it.

Chris Anderson - I am a Heritage trail user. My children and I have enjoyed biking the trail. That said the extension in question has a far to great impact on a natural habitat and is wasteful. The extension would not be very useful and has many elements that are to negatively impactful. The project cost is absurd as it stands right now and likely to balloon further. The funds should be used for other highly important and effective projects. Namely invasive species elimination, protection of wetland and grasslands. Do not go forward with this wasteful project. FYI I live in Traverse City and this project has no direct negative impact on me.

Barbara Fishbeck - Leave it natural.

Josh Fisher -The amount of habitat destruction required to create this extension is not worth a new paved trail.

Catherine Thomas - There are plenty of trails…….use them! Please leave the rest of our beautiful land alone

David Warfield - Re-route the proposed trail extension if need be, but do not disturb the dunes.

Candace Clark -I am writing to express my deep disappointment regarding the proposed Segment 9 Heritage Trail within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. As someone who cherishes the natural beauty of this area, I am appalled by the reckless disregard for our environment. Facts: 7,300 trees slated for removal. Critical Dunes sacrificed for asphalt. Massive retaining walls marring the landscape. Wetlands disrupted, endangering State Special Concern species. Globally rare wooded dunes paved over. Cost: $14.5 million for just over four miles—7.5 times more than existing trail costs. Alternatives: Cheaper, greener options exist. Consequences: If Segment 9 proceeds, I, and many many many others will rethink vacation plans. Our vacation dollars may find a more deserving home elsewhere, a place that values the natural beauty of their area. Action Needed: National Park Service: Reevaluate. Leelanau County Road Commission: Deny permits. Michigan’s EGLE: Prioritize preservation. State of Michigan: Hold off on funding. Local Communities: Unite for a win-win plan. Visit SleepingBearNaturally.com for details. Michigan’s unspoiled beauty is worth protecting—for all of us and generations to come.

Lila Anson - Such a heartless idea to clear part of such a beautiful area that’s home to so many animals. We rarely give them space as it is, why ruin more of their habitats and the places that are the most beautiful??

Emily Fisher - preserve natural areas.

Jeffrey Sleder - I am signing this petition to hopefully stop the proposed Segment 9 Heritage trail

Amy Andrews - Don’t let this happen! Protect our scenic beauty, do the right thing!

Robert Johnston - This ridiculous plan of destruction must be stopped!

Lesley Scanlon - Leave trail natural. Cut down no trees or minimal trees. No pavement please .

Carrie Dunn - This is needless destruction of a protected wildlife area

Elizabeth Thill - Leave nature as it is intended to be!

Megan Schildberg - As a biologist and natural resource professional, I think the irresponsible addition of trails through sensitive ecosystems is not the way to get the public engaged. And it does not demonstrate interacting with nature in a sustainable way. These habitats are already fragmented and carrying capacity is dwindling with each one of these types of publicity stunt projects- I think the dunes can be enjoyed fully with the existing trail system. So to put it in terms that even politicians and administration will understand- Leave it alone!

Ana Helmer - This is a horrible idea. Don’t go forward with this plans!!!

Linda Hickok - Other options need to be considered.

Jennifer Littlefield - There is plenty of trail in the park already. Please preserve the rest for the animals and plants! I’m really so against this addition.

Peter Wilkinson - We don’t need more recreation. We need more untouched wild places.

Lynn Fifer - Do not build it!

Janine Lehmann - unbelievable they would consider that. I couldn't even improve an old small ditch to keep our property from flooding. And they want to decimate these forests! Please! Just use Little Traverse Lake rd!

Ruth A Willison -This is the most absurd idea I’ve heard! Those dunes and the forest are precious to all of Northern Michigan. Please leave it alone!

Bruce Lehmann - the NPS should be ashamed of themselves. It is beyond common sense and comprehension that they would want to do this. So much for preserving our natural beauty. I guess "critical" isn't so critical.

Anne Bannister - Please protect natural features for future generations

Joni Robb - I am opposed to using man made materials to shore up a natural landscape. I know we can do better and come up with a natural design. Thank you.

Bonny Risbridger - I am in full agreement with this petition

Collin Simerson - Because traverse city doesn’t have enough bike trails that no one uses big waste of money every time I go out there people biking in traffic all around maybe do some sidewalks down Garfield and southairport there’s just random panches and stuff that doesn’t all connect

Amber Heardlsy - Cyclists can go elsewhere

Fawn Milliken -The motto leave no mark when using any national or state park should apply to those who are supposed to protect the parks. People visit those beautiful areas to experience a peaceful visit. Not to see the destruction of parks to cater a very few and ruin it for the majority.

Eduardo Aguirre - Jeremiah 2:7 And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination

Felicia Zermeno -Stop destroying animal shelters/ habitats! People don’t belong in their world. We have plenty. Stop cutting into more of the animals world!

Kirsten Erbskorn - This makes me so sad! This is so unnecessary to tear up all this wildlife to destroy the views and environment with a stupid retaining wall

Andrew Osborn - Nature does not need improvement.

Kara Sutton - Please keep this ecologically unique area of critical concern a place for all (humans, flora, and fauna) to enjoy for years to come!

Babetta Davids - Please don’t

Bryan Mellema - Stop ruining wilderness with man made trails, bathrooms, shelters, etc. Keeping the park natural and wild will only keep the great reputation it already has

Christine Strickland - This is not what we want. Leave it alone!

Judith Cole - No new trail

Heather Fewins - There has got to be a better option then destroying all of that natural beauty.

Stacey Shijka-Ottolini - Please keep the Dunes in there beautiful and natural state

Lisa Bible - Please don't proceed with segment 9 of the "heritage trail".

Andrea Steagall - Please leave things as they are. There is no need to destroy all of the trees and natural habitat.

Michelle Manley - I rarely sign petitions but this is a ridiculous plan that cannot be allowed to proceed. To destroy an important and beautiful landscape for a paved path in the name of enjoying that said landscape is unbelievable. Who wants to see a 25 ft tall wall when they come to experience this beautiful area...? Nature is the appeal: dunes and trees and all. Then consider the negative environmental impact of not only destroying this natural resource but also the carbon emissions that will occur constructing this. Knowing that there are less expensive and less destructive options available, it is incredibly irresponsible to move forward with this plan.

Madelin Prochaska - This is a National Park and this project directly opposes the intentions of National Parks.

Marie Hendrixon - A travesty

Sue Elliott - I am opposed to the heritage trail proposal which will disrupt the main purpose of the natural dunes.

Jenna Savage - Sleeping Bear Dunes is the largest freshwater dune system in the WORLD. Leave it alone.

Dale Elenteny - I would prefer the park to prioritize wilderness over paved road access.

Laurie Robinson - cmon.....common sense here, NO NO NO!

Patricia Sparks - Too much destruction to make this trail. It is an unnecessary addition.

Janice Hubbs - Ridiculous!! DO NOT DISTURB!!! There are plenty of trails -Leave the Natural Wilderness ALONE! I’ve gone up to our cottage since 1958 for the Natural get away from people and Look it’s going to be treeless & trampled on more than it already is and littered by vacationers that don’t pay taxes…This breaks my heart let alone all the animal and vegetation displacement!!

Carolyn Rossetto - Stop. This is a waste of money.

Darrin Hughes - Please don’t build this, no need for it.

Kimberly Lava - Please do not put up a retaining wall

Ellen O'Neill - Against!

McKenzie Magee - don't pave our wilderness. petrochemicals kill.

Curt Meine - There is a right way and place to do trails, and there's a wrong way and place. This is the wrong way and place.

Nancy Janulis - The NPS and TART Trails entered this cooperative endeavor over 12 years ago to build a trail to navigate a circuitous route by bike around Leelanau County on public National Park land. There were few public comments against because the public comment periods were not widely publicized and were held in off season. Since that time many changes have occurred to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area in part due to the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. . It has become super crowded in Glen Arbor with many bike riders on the streets between cars in crowded conditions. The impact to the human and natural environment has been great. The Segment 9 prooosal to build in a fragile wetlands and dunes area will require enormous road building equipment at a huge cost and permanent change to the environment . The usage of this Segment 8 trail is unknown and suspect at best. The great majority of bike riders stay close to Glen Arbor, the Dunes and Glen Lake. Low ridership, lack of public comments for this Segment, catastrophic impact on the environment all make the Segment 9 building proposal a disastrous idea which needs to be stopped.

Chrissy Bettiga - Do not destroy our natural resources.

Korey Mack - Please don’t destroy the natural landscape for another path.

Lucy Dueck - This is a waste of money but more importantly, destruction of the environment in a wilderness area meant to be protected from such destruction. Don’t do it!

Amanda Popa - Horrible idea ! Completely unnecessary

Barron Burgermyer - Leave the dune as it is. It’s perfectly fine as is how god intended. Spend the money on more outhouses a d trash cans.

Kyle Seeger - You're choosing to destroy protected land for a trail that doesn't need to be there. It doesn't make sense to destroy the thing the trail would take you to see. It's pointless

Geri Bechtol - Leave it as it is. I came all the way from Iowa to admire and hike the dune trail! We have lost so many natural places.

Amelia Rista - Imagine tearing down trees in a PARK

Shane Olman - Why ruin this area and install an ugly concrete wall!???

Alexandria Hamilton - Keep it natural!

Wayne Swick - Preserve one of our States' most precious and beautiful resources!

Merrie Thompson - Stop paving paradise

Veronica Losey - Leave the land alone. There are enough roads and trails.

Jazmine Mui - Do not spoil nature

Mykelty Strode - Keep nature quiet. Carving a paved path through it will drive nature away as quickly as a suburb would.

Sera White -This is a disgusting idea (while it might have "good" intentions for bikers and hikers) this will destroy the natural ecosystem. Please don't allow this to happen

Katherine Henkel - Keep it natural! Don't ruin nature!

Terri Myers - I have always been against this last segment of the trail, as again, it leads to nowhere. The damage that would be done to this fragile area, not to mention the expense, are phenomenal. And the goal of our national parks is to protect “unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations”? I don’t understand the thinking.

Heather Foster - LEAVE THE DUNES NATURAL

Susan Wheadon -It is past time for us to do all we can to protect our wild places. Please

Melissa Gasser - Removing trees for a trail is a huge mistake that will further eliminate the habitat needed for area wildlife

Samara Slocombe - Keep nature, nature.

Sara Miller - Not environmentally responsible or necessary

Brad Morris - Leave nature alone

Margery Bruner - When there are other options available, digging into the dunes and cutting so many trees is unnecessary. Nobody is coming here to drive past a mile of retaining wall taller than their vehicle.

Nancy Schaner - It’s not necessary! Definitely not worth the destruction of trees.

Kim Koutny - Please do not disturb the natural beauty of the dunes.

Kalee Preston - Destroying native habitat for more development is the opposite of what we need!

Kameron Zimmerman - Putting it through critical dune area is a joke, even considering it is a joke. Really wish there was more I could do

Courtney Yaple - As a resident of Leelanau County and a nature-lover, I strongly oppose the proposal to destroy this protected dune area to make a paved path for recreation. There are plenty of spaces for recreation in our county, even within the dunes, we do not need to disturb the precious ecosystem and invade Mother Nature with more man-made materials. We are in a climate crisis- we must do our part to sustain and protect the earth- not destroy habitats and pour more asphalt over our natural resources. This is wrong and the area should be left alone. I would hate to see my tax dollars go to fund this unnecessary and foolish project. Rather, our tax dollars should help protect the land we have here. If the proposal is to clear out trees and change the structure of the land and build a huge wall, that is a waste of money. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Michelle Sehl -Just no

Kate Evans - I feel like the park access is good and to go to this length (killing more trees and building the excessive wall) is too much. There are plenty of ways to access the natural areas in the park without taking this unnecessary step.

Jennifer Fischer - Leave it natural. I don’t go to Sleeping Bear to see “progress.”

Bryan Girty - I've been to Sleeping Bear Dunes multiple times. If this happens, I might never go again.

Thomas Morey - Stop destroying the planet for roads

Teresa Molano - This trail is not worth it if it destroys the natural beauty of the dunes!

Maxwell Oldaker - I feel that this is a disgusting use of funds and a misleading campaign to raise them that will hurt the local wildlife and our dunes. We can not keep trying to modernize our natural paths. If we want to make them accessible we need to be funding the all terrain wheelchairs, we need to protect our islands and our beaches. Sleeping bear dunes are sacred and natural place, which our world is killing more of every day. Don't change it.

Donita Stokes - We do not need this done to the dunes

Katie Downer -Opposed

Ian Bancroft -This destruction is needless and very short sighted.

Kathryn Anthony - Leave nature as God intended. There’s enough destruction in the world, Michigan doesn’t need to be a part of it.

Sue Huybensz - We must save as much of our planet as we can. There is no planet B.

Sheryl Lipke - I oppose this trail due to the habitat, the fact that it's a dune, and just because you feel you can, doesn't mean you need to.

William Carrington - Couldn't you just build a walking trail for 4 and a 1/2 miles Orso and not destroy everything?

Nancy Stewart - I object to the decimation of preserved and fragile areas of the county and to the exorbitant spending to accomplish same - particularly when other options are available!

Handy Dawn - Don't alter perfection.

Jaclyn Beaudoin - Leave it alone!!!

Michele Viger - Leave it alone! We do not need this obtrusive wall!

Toni Lichvar - NO!

Mimi Wheeler - the carbon footprint of creating this trail and building this retaining wall and the cost will be enormous and should not take place!

Andrew Graham - Please look at other options

Alexis Lehnigk — I don’t think it’s necessary to destroy a part of the ecosystem, or any nature that’s especially part of a protected area. We need to diminish the amount of concrete taking up our natural spaces. This is not “progress” it is destruction of nature solely for human convenience and nothing else.

Paul Damschroder - Why develop protected land for a retaining wall at all?

Paula Erickson -NO

Suzanne Bock - We don’t need anymore “trails”…

Stanette Amy - ABSOLUTELY NOT

Megan Raphael -There are other options…

Sara Richardson - Please leave nature natural!!

Katie Heuerman - Protect the feature worth visiting-nature

Madison Forman - ecosystems in this area do not need to be bothered, changed, nor destroyed. they should be protected by all costs. the park itself is not only a joy to us as people, but its a living place for many species of animals and plants. they rely on one another and they do not need any more human interference.

Rebecca Carey - Save the trees and wildlife

Brin Gurney - This is heartbreaking to see. I don't understand why this path is needed at all. The ONLY reason for something like this is for disabled people on wheelchairs. Which clearly isn't the motive here. Let nature be. Let us enjoy it in its NATURAL state. This is not where we should be spending our time, effort and money.

Christine Hale - The ecological price is far too high to justify this proposed project.

Kathleen Canfield - Just outrageous. My parents had to give up their cabin to the park system. Government bulldozed it the ground. Have to returned to natures and now they want to intrude with massive structures!!!

Andrew Emmons - Defemation to that land is unwanted, personally would rather see the area preserved in a better manner as someone who frequents the trails their I'm upset to see this initiative.

Rochelle Vaughan - The proposed heritage trail is very unattractive and unnatural looking. It is not an appealing addition to the landscape in the area and requires immense destruction to the natural landscape. I do not support the formation of this trail.

Darlyne Leete - Exception to the critical dunes act should not be granted. A retaining wall, as suggested, seems counter intuitive to preservation or “heritage”.

Theresa Phillips - How about NO. Just NO.

Marie Schatz - So sick of stupid ideas that get some sort of toehold and then become inevitable because of other stupid ideas. Stop the madness!!!

Ramona Rubin - Keep the trails simple and natural. I oppose grandiose "improvements" that damage sensitive habitats. Visitors want to know that they are part of a natural ecosystem, not manipulating and destroying one.

Douglas Jones - Please consider alternatives to Segment 9. The Mansfield report, commissioned by Sleeping Bear Naturally, has wonderful options that allow TART and the NPS to be true to their missions -- in fact some of them further their missions more so than Segment 9. To EGLE, please deny the Critical Dune Area permit specifically, and any other permits needed for the wetland construction. To LCRC, please deny the Little Travers Lake Trail road-right-of-way construction permit. To NPS, please do an Environmental Assessment that does it's own servey of the kind of detail

Kristina Shankel - Please don't destroy this beautiful natural area. This so called improvement is just too destructive.

Alexander Misra - Not many dunes exist globally especially with in the US. We should not be building 25’ retaining walls that impede dune movement.

Reina Mizell - I am not a Michiganier, but I am concerned about this loss of habitat and destruction of natural wilderness. Do not allow these companies to rape our wilderness for profit.

Jacob Shannon - Leave it how it is

Elijah Radford - Preserve the lands

Karen Succarde - Stop the insanity. We don’t need another trail. You are proposing destroying what you want to enjoy.

Michelle Abramson - Leave Mother Nature the way it is, it’s a beautiful place for people and animals to go. Don’t destroy it to have something more people to walk past

Anne Baker - Please don't do this retaining wall! Isn't part of the National Park Services mission to tread lightly? SBD has many trails already. We don't need this trail if it's at the expense of destruction to our Dunes!

Lori Eubanks - Drop the project and quit trying to fix what's not broke!

Mindy Thomas - Not in favor of the trail being built

Karen Bunker - Please don’t destroy the PROTECTED natural beauty. We already trample enough wilderness as it is.

Nanci Lubinski - They need to leave it alone!

Magnolia Coyle - We need to protect the land we have and destroying it by ripping down trees and paving asphalt is just greedy, needless destruction. Money won’t bring our precious landmarks back, and money certainly won’t earn anyone a seat in heaven.

Colleen McVeigh - This plan needs serious rethinking. It is an abomination. I cannot believe the Park Service developed such a plan. So do the right thing now and rethink it.

Ana Ramirez - STOP TEARING DOWN OUR PLANET, LEAVE NATURE ALONE

Julie Winkler - This addition of pavement and retaining walls is destructive and not needed. It is reducing critical habitat just to increase traffic and additional harm to the area. Leave it natural!

Catherine Howe - Multiple protections should be sufficient to protect this area. 'Somebodies' should still have some decent boundaries.

Courtney Ashley - i do not agree with the idea of the Heritage Trail expansion

Sarah Spainhour - I believe this is blatantly disrespectful to the park and the environment, a gross misuse of funds, and over engineering. Your planners should take into consideration the impact of this project on the environment, and realize that your plans are unnecessary. They need to be completely redone. Bring in outside knowledge and expertise. This will decimate the dunes and be an ugly eyesore.

Melissa Barr - Don’t do it!

Silvia Alvarez - Hope to walk the natural trail soon.

Madeleine Lutian -Humans acting as if we own this planet is what is destroying it, and ultimately that included us too! Every ‘small’ restraint to develop on natural land makes a huge impact

Veronica Zwierzchowski - Keep sleeping bear dunes natural.

Nick Bennett - Destroys nature, & destroying the dunes.

Bridget Murphy - Please don't pave paradise!

Brylan Glover - I think they should leave it more natural and make room for native fauna and wild life.

Jami Trivelpiece - Terrible idea! These dunes need our protection . Just because you can build it, does not mean you should.

Mark Polinko - As a practicing landscape architect and having done a number of project within Critical Dunes areas, rarely have I seen EGLE approve any project that is that destructive to a Critical Dune area without very restrictive limitations. As mentioned in the petition, once Critical Dune disturb that or . . . destroyed to that degree. No restoration measures can replace and or mimic the beauty of what “Mother Nature” created. I think we also can not forget why people are attracted to the scenic beauty of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and Lakeshore and it absolutely is not because of 25 feet tall precast concrete retaining wall of any length. You can see that in any urban city USA. People come here for the winding scenic natural beauty within the Nation Lakeshore area not a massive concrete wall more reflective of a highway thru a urban jungle. We are called to be stewards of our natural resources and as much as I enjoy biking, the cost to our precious Critical Dunes figuratively and physically is to great a loss to justify the 4.5 mile bike path. The engineer even recommended less impactful hiking trails and/or walking paths as a more respectful recreational use of the Critical Dunes, and the fragile Wetlands than a bike path. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should! Find me one person that feel that 4.5 miles will be logged as memorable scenic bike ride when compared to the original scenic trail from Empire to Glen Arbor. I don’t believe you will. Case closed!

Kaylee Buse -the greed is getting out of hand

Shepard Diane - I oppose developing the proposed trail.

Pamela Hemmes - This critical area would be best left alone. Save it as it is. We don't need to tread upon every bit of nature.

Kacilee Legato -This trail needs to stay untouched. It is a natural phenomenon. I've walked this trail with my family many times and the nature is breathtaking. Don't ruin a beautiful thing.

Ray Danford - Do not destroy the dunes area this way. It's beautiful because it's natural. dont make it into a manmade joke

Victoria Hayes- Stop building this and leave nature alone.

Roxan Hessenaur - There has to be a better way!!

Mallorie Gonzalez - Stop with the non sense. Please do not destroy the land.

Ben Ewing - Please stop the development plans in Sleeping Bear Dunes. I hope future generations are able to enjoy the unique natural features of the area.

Sean Hendrickson - Why clear cut trees that are retaining the dune naturally? Why erect a 25' wall to block the view? What's wrong with the opposite side of the road? Why not a natural trail instead of paving?

Rebecca Vohs - Don’t cut down trees . Save our dunes.

Juan Zitara - This is a ridiculous plan!

Liam Reynolds - Is this how our tax dollars are spent? This benefits the companies that build the trail. That’s it. It’s ugly, unnecessary, and will require maintenance to keep nice.

Shantell Duffiney - This area needs to be left alone before we lose even more of our shorelines

Kristine Lee - Please stop the destruction

Jane Snider - Please don’t ruin this environmental treasure for TRAFFIC!! Seriously, what a disappointing use of nature!!

Lindsey Robert - I have visited Sleeping Bear several times and absolutely loved my time there. It's a perfect place, and I would be devastated if the environment were compromised.

Kimberly Augenstein - I enjoy the good harbor trail, the conservancy trail and the hiking connectors from Little Traverse lake. Would like to see additional low impact hiking or walking connectors/loops in the Shalda creek/good harbor area. Maybe additional gravel parking. No more asphalt

Marilyn Miller - With new information available from the Borealis Tree Survey and the Mansfield Engineering Report, it is clear that the Segment 9 route of the Heritage Trail was never properly evaluated when the project was approved by National Park Service higher-ups fifteen years ago. This project needs to be halted immediately. A new Environmental Assessment that accurately assesses the impacts to the State-regulated wetlands, globally rare dune and swale complex, and steep forested dunes needs to be done. The National Park Service needs to consider the proximity of the route to the Congressionally-designated Wilderness Area when evaluating impacts. When key park resources are likely to be impacted, NPS policy allows managers to err on the side of the resource even if the impact doesn't rise to the level of impairment. Surely dunes, in Sleeping Bear DUNES National Lakeshore, are a key resource. Surely dune/swale complexes, as an example of ancient glacial phenomena, are a key resource. We expect these rare, globally significant ecosystems to be protected by the National Park Service, not destroyed.

Mads Amaro - The park should stay as pristine as possible. By adding the trail it will take away from the protected environment.

Valocity St Germaine - I’m signing this petition because I want to help protect endangered or threatened land, species or anything of that matter. Our nature needs to be protected as much as possible!

William Mulligan - Don’t ruin something so unique and wonderful. These ecosystems are too dynamic and there is no reason for people to try and manipulate them to our wants.

Maria Seelos - Nature should be left as just that, nature. Not pulled down and torn apart for the profits. Putting my name down, I can only hope it puts a stop to the destruction of our natural environments.

Johnathan Rayburn - Stop wasting money building yuppie things for yuppie people. Still waiting for the damn roads to be fixed, flints water to be sorted, and the people associated with the damn to be prosecuted.

Conrad Carlson - This trail would be devastating to the ecosystem

Shari Lynch - This trail is unnecessary and damages the beauty of the park

Maegan Dover - STOP DESTROYING THINGS UNNECESSARILY

Jessica Stotler - This is not an appropriate space for such an invasive trail.

David Jeewek - Don't ruin the park. It's meant to be a natural area not a naturalized cityscape.

Brenna Kelley - Please let nature flourish- this park is not necessary

Caitlin Jerome - Protect the dunes for future generations

Adriana Ibarra - These habitats need to stay protected and respected.

Alex Bergel - There is no good reason to destroy these pristine natural areas in the name of tourism. Further altering these landscapes will only make them less recognizable for what they are; natural areas that should be left alone!

Trisha Bergel - Leave our dunes alone!

Jessica Binaei - Please do not let this proceed

Douglas Trevethan - It angers me that we have already spent taxpayer dollars on this study and proposal. Our wilderness is to be protected - not slashcut and paved over !

Janet Bogus - This a terrible idea. One wonders who is responsible for this proposal. Our TAX dollars pay for DNR responsible stewardship of the people’s natural resources. Please stop the insanity.

Paula Leach - Cutting down thousands of  trees in a pristine one of a kind environment is completely unacceptable. And shocking for a national park to even consider. Please stop this trail from happening. A pleasant wooded path would allow visitors to experience nature we do not need A wide paved trail!!!!

Debbie Thero - Leave the dunes alone.

Meredith Shafer - Horrific idea!!

Lisa Burton - Quit destroying biodiversity, habitat & ecosystems

Katie Harris - Leave nature as such- natural.

Amanda Urquhart - Terrible idea. Leave them be.

William Bieke - This disgusting encroachment on nature is not a “preserve,” or enhancement. The best way to preserve nature is to leave it alone.

Rayne Hrabcak - Protect the dunes! Keep natural hiking trail! Do not kill of natural ecosystems

Allison Sterritt - This is unacceptable

Olivia Steffler - Stop defacing our planet!! I love Sleeping Bear and I’ve been there many times. It’s a naturally beautiful place and we don’t need to do anything to it!

Grace Witkop - Leave it all alone!

Erin Glynn - Deconstructing the shores that protect the surrounding land is going to be detrimental to the surrounding environment

Victoria Santich - Leave the wilderness wild, there is no need for pavement in the forest

Aubrey Hart - Please consider the impact of this project on the environment and wildlife. Please make choices that reflect that you've thought about the long term consequences for your the next 7 generations, and thereafter. Please keep Sleeping Bear Dunes as natural as possible. Do not desecrate this environment. Protect it. It's your job to do so and make decisions that are in alignment with the wellbeing of the ecosystem.

Jacob Printz - Dumb. The road bicycle people will still use the road so it's really pointless

Joshua Fountain - Please keep it the way Mother Nature not humans intend it to be.

Cynthia Miner - This construction is certainly overkill and would be a huge step in destroying more of the natural beauty of the Dunes.

Jean Owens - This is very, very important to protect our natural areas as so many are lost now to new subdivisions and commercial areas.

Patricia Rule - People please pay attention and remember this is our world. If we don’t start changing our ways we are going to lose everything that god created for us.

Caryn Leighton - Not essential & not stewardship to this protected area!!

Hope Hartmann - We do not need more paved paths. It would be pointless damage. Preserve the dunes as they are for future generations.

Dave Morgan - The changes proposed are a scar on the landscape. There must prudent and feasible alternatives implemented.

Edward Schocker - I am 100% against it. Your job is to protect not to destroy.

Anthony Applegate - I am against the construction of the heritage trail and the destruction it will cause to the local ecosystem

Isaac Cotton - After hearing what will be going on, I cant even see this happening. For our, people have walked the dunes up and down the years. I've seen some older folks still walk the dunes without needing pavement. Plus, it will ruin natural ecosystems for many wild life. Instead of making these wooden and non wooded Nature ares pavement and brick, make them just cleaned up and beautiful.

Rachel Longton - As a frequent visitor to sleeping bear I would hate to see ecosystems effected when other options are available.

Tyson Miracle - I enjoying seeing Sleeping Bear Dunes every time I visit my family in Michigan. Please don't construct another segment of road through the dunes. Unfragmented nature is becoming increasingly rare. This would be yet another scar on the landscape and a sad ecological lose. Thank you for your consideration.

Emma Laskey - We do not need to alter our state parks to destroy them. Leave the natural area's natural

Judith Kay - Please don't remove the trees!

Camryn Roberts - Mother Earth #1 priority

Willa Hilton - No!!

Judy Brewer - Please let common sense prevail for a change by protecting this beautiful, amazing, fragile area. All parts of the earth are connected --when we destroy something so precious, we move one step closer to destroying humanity.

Sarah Zehnder - I may not permanently live there but we do own a home and spend much time in Leelanau County. The natural beauty is what calls us and wants to eventually move there permanently in 5 years. No one wants to see cement walls and sidewalks in the wooded areas

Bonnie Beckwith - Please don't pave paradise.

Deb Heller - Leave this area as is for all to enjoy!!!!

Kayla Packowski - Some things are best left alone

Brandon Deleon - They say the guy that opened play river to the bay destroyed habitat of potential nesting zone for piping plovers yet they're gonna destroy acres of habitat just so people can ride their bikes.

Ben Harrison - Please leave this place alone, nobody wants this project to happen so why waste people's money to do it

James Johnson - Leave the dunes alone, no additional trail.

Allison Elkins - Leave nature as it is!

Harley Overton - Haven’t we just done enough? Destroyed enough? Some things just aren’t ours.

Malisa Dowdle - Keep wilderness WILD!!! There are MORE than enough roads and concrete in the United States, the point of these protected areas is to protect the already threatened ecosystems!

Drake Parker - The trail should not be added due to environmental concern.

Kevin Spoelman - This would be a decimation of our natural resources. Our native ancestors would look down in disgrace over the alteration of this national landmark.

Emily Fox - Do not build!!!

Logan Leer- There is no reason to disrupt such a beautiful and essential area of wildlife.

Tracey Graves - Please preserve the natural beauty of the lakeshore.

Jacob Trujillo - We're going to destroy the most beautiful places we have left, out of reasons for convenience. These are protected lands and nature has a right to grow and flourish just as we do in a natural way.!!!

Shampine Jessica - LEAVE NATURE ALONE

Diane Stevens - There is no need to extend the trail through such a beautiful and fragile area. And removing so many trees is a horrible plan! Let the trail end stay as is. Save the trees and land, save your money.

Lynne Wale - Leave protected areas protected. There's no valid reason to decimate this beautiful area. There are plenty of other trails in this beautiful state.

Doreen Hill - Please find another way for the trail that protects the dunes. This plan is terrible and too costly

Kathy Schumacher - There are lesser-impact alternatives to what is proposed here to achieve the goal of opening up access to the wonder of Sleeping Bear.

Jaema Stilley - Please do not build a retaining wall!

Kimberly Moran - Stop ruining nature for human enjoyment

Rae Butala - Please leave the beautiful dunes alone

Judy Amon - The reason we all love the Dune area so much is because it is “untouched”. We have enough concrete…please leave this “natural”.

William Rock - I am fully against building the Heritage Trail through Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Cameron Kelso - Leave Nature as Nature.

ErinKay Ward - The fact that fundraising for the development of wilderness is more important than fundraising for the preservation of it is mindblowing.

Kelly Castillo - This plan is sickening. This land is PROTECTED! The transformation brings more concrete and urban sprawl that is not needed or wanted in an area where people wanted the protected lands PROTECTED. Stop trying to develop areas that don’t need to be developed.

Lila Taylor - Leave it alone!!!! Nobody needs this! Leave it as is!!

Janice Wilburn - Ruining natural beauty should never be allowed. We are running out of undisturbed rare places

Renee Conner - I love northern michigan ! Keep it natural.

Elizabeth Fay - Please don’t.

Rebecca Leach - Do not do it!!!

Jess Marks - Totally not a good idea. We need to protect these areas not build them up

Brynn Donelson - Michigan is my home and I would hate for its natural beauty to be ruined like it is everywhere else

Matt Prusak - This is the dumbest thing I've seen in a long time, please stop this horrible idea

Briena Bamford - Please stop prioritizing man over nature as if they are not connected. It’s hypocrisy to suggest so much change and interference to a protected natural landscape. People have other places to bike.

Alana Barshney - Why do NPS and TART Trails think they can destroy the scenic beauty of this protected area by paving an asphalt path through it?

Gabrielle Ansorge - NOOOO

Catherine Howe - The NPS was designed to preserve land that would be otherwise developed. Destroying the landscape for a bike trail is frivolous. Common sense, not emotion would dictate this area be preserved.

Emily Taphouse - The proposed trail should be moved to the shoulder of M-22. Let’s not destroy sensitive vegetation and trees along with wildlife.

Tekla Derks - How can you take all those trees out and replace parts with asphalt?? How is this environmentally friendly ? You will be changing that whole ecosystem! Not good!!

Robert DeKorne - Please consider a narrower gravel windy-type trail for this end segment. Costs less - so you can plant 2 trees for every one cut down!

Barbara Barton - Do the EA. It's generation chips away at our last semi wild places someday there won't be anything left. Do the right thing. And it's the law.

Larry Danner - Do the new, requested EA

Brandi Sweet - Very concerned knowing the lack of environmental studies.

Michael Trier - Protect our dunes

Loretta McCarthy - Please do not alter vulnerable ecosystems!

James Wright - The Park Adm. needs to consider an alternate route plan that isn't environmentally damaging. The currently designed trail will have a negative impact on water. forest, dunes. The Park has a major role in protecting the lakeshore ecology against the increasing developmental pressure that's occurring on the nature of Leelanau county. Reconsider this inappropriate plan.

Jean Martin - I’m a Michigander and I enjoy keeping it as natural as possible. I’m sick of catering to tourist. Specifically wealthy Chicago people trying to make Michigan theirs without paying the taxes or living here full time. OUTSIDE INFLUENCE HAS JO PLACE HERE! It’s ruined our coast of Lake Michigan already. Giant mansions and paved trails just ruining our Great Lake Michigan coast. We will protest!!!

Marilyn Vance - i would have to look at a concrete retaining wall across the road instead of a soaring beautiful protected dune. what an atrocity.

Barbara Eyre - This destruction of wet lands & extreme width of trail are NOT necessary to enjoy this pristine native area. Not every thing needs to be ADA.

Janice Sohn - Please don't destroy the environment by building segment 9.

Sarah Fewell - A full environmental assessment needs to be done according to NEPA before completing the segment 9 Heritage Trail. Current assessments are NOT complete or using current data. Stop cutting corners and do a proper assessment.

Pamela Hiltunen Hall - The wall looks like it will trap wildlife on the road. It’s not appealing to visitors. When I visit relatives in Michigan, I’d rather visit the forest looking as untouched as possible.

Rachael Tarlo - Please get a new EA

Thomas TaylorBrown - Please don't encroach on this beautiful landscape anymore.

Beverly Green - What a mistake for a pristeen area. It's not conducive to keeping our Federal lands protected.

Thomas Fouts - Do the right thing! Do not destroy the beautiful nature or cut the trees. What is wrong with you?

Kendall Witherspoon - Please rethink this entire project before moving forward.

Daniel Rozanski - Leave no trace.

Adam Traykovich - We need to persevere our natural resources and beauty of the state for generations to come, building this trail will eventually erode both!!

Linda James - Follow the regulations

Kaylee Stressman - 18 cars maximum utilize this road during peak traffic hours; this is unnecessary and a blatant show of negligence, incompetence and lack of experience on Tucker’s part.

Cheyenne Caudill - The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an Environmental Assessment (EA) be accurately based on scientific studies, to consider all available alternatives, and to make sure impacts are avoided. In a recent IPR News article, Park Supertindent Scott Tucker said: "the big picture is, the decisions the National Park Service makes, we do not make them on an emotional line, we make them based on federal policy, federal regulation and federal law." Yet no botanical survey or detailed engineering analysis of Segment 9 was done for the EA. The proposed route is building retaining walls as high as 25' through State protected Critical Dune Area - not mentioned in the EA. It requires boardwalks and asphalt paths through globally rare wooded dune and swale comples ranked of State Concern - not mentioned in the EA. The 2009 EA for an off-road trail along Traverse Lake Road is identical in wording with same design and cost descriptions as the 2008 EA for on-road trail using Traverse Lake Road. How can impacts from an off-road trail, which will remove 7,300 trees, be the same for a shared on-road trail? NPS did not explore all the alternatives in the Good Harbor Region as required by law. Options which have little to no environmental impact in comparison. Little Traverse Lake Association has asked for a new EA. The National Parks Conservation Association has asked for a new EA. Sleeping Bear Naturally has asked for a new EA. The botantist who did the recent botanical survey recommended a new EA. The firm who completed the recent engineering analysis of Segment 9 and alternatives recommended a new EA. Superintendent Tucker: You can complete a new EA for Segment 9. You can decide building asphalt trails and massive retaining walls through sensitive ecosystems is not the best fit with your mission of preserving "America's Most Beautiful Place." This is a 15 year old ill-planned trail concept of Segment 9.

Allen Ammons - Follow the law, you can do better than this travesty.

Walter Budweil - Keep the dunes as natural as possible.

Kira Yost - I think that the right things needs to be done regarding checking everything out, not just the things that they deem necessary.

Constance Doherty - You can't hold sand back with a wall. Just ask the park rangers at Petoskey State Park. Not that that fact is uppermost but it is another big reason that this trail is such a bad idea. Please note that I love trails and use them all of the time but I love nature more.

Marshall Stange - The Mansfield Land Use Consultants have done a wonderful job on this whole debacle of a plan. My Grandfather who built a cabin on Little Traverse Lake Rd. in 1940 is rolling over in his grave! we love the unpaved paths throughout the lakeshore.

Kirstin Draba - I’m shocked at this terrible plan. It seems ‘someone’ wants to keep logging and building when it’s simply a BAD PLAN and should be stopped. You have enough paved paths and bike trails! Keep things beautiful and more natural. Stop logging trees!

Scott Udell - Leave the dunes as they are. We don't need or want a trail there.

Susan Lybolt - Segment 9 Heritage Trail plan will harm the natural beauty of plants, trees and shoreline that are better off left untouched. What you are planning is unnecessary but the natural beauty of the landscape & it's historic significance needs to be protected, not destroyed. Please do not proceed with this planned destruction.

Kathryn Bly - My family has had a cabin I this road for generations. There is no need for a trail when there is a road already established. These parks are protected spaces. There will be a detrimental impact to the environment and a need for ongoing environmentally harmful and expensive maintenance. No one wants this trip or needs it. It does not need to go down this road.

Elena Berry - Unfortunately as I continue to age every year, the beauty of nature in my life is slowly diminishing due to destruction at the hands of people. The proposition of construction in such a beautiful place is appalling, it is my belief that these plans are not needed what so ever. Concrete walkways would take away from the beauty of exploring nature. Not to walk a paved path as you would a city park. The wild is just that; wild. As more and more development continues in these beautiful places, my will to continue to live slips away. What is the beauty of life without the beauty of the natural world of which we reside? Please, do not allow the destruction of these beautiful lands further.

Sue Jennings - Protect the fundamental resource of the park- the dunes and associated wetlands. That EA is 15 years old, knowledge about the environmental conditions, trail design, and attitudes have changed. Time to reinitiate the process. Nothing to lose and the everything to gain. This segment is one of the many thousand cuts that leads to the destruction of this resource integrity. The present trail fulfilled the original purpose and beed- providing multiuse trail on the park.

William Leahy - This trail does not strike me to be in the spirit of national parks and why they were created. We need to preserve what’s left of the natural world, not cut down trees and pave it for the interests of a few.

Muzette O'Connell - That entire area is going to sink if they keep destroying it, all those species will go extinct

Shayla Leonard - This trail is not for locals or encouraging people to experience nature. People who live near this area have spoken against the trail and to me it seems tourists are the only ones who would enjoy it, but there are already over 13,000 miles of trails in this state for tourists and Michiganders to enjoy. There's no need to spend millions of dollars, cut over 7,000 trees, and burn 60+ gallons of diesel per piece of equipment per day on adding another four miles of trail in protected lands.

Sue Wagner - Think about your mission statement. Think about preserving this national park rather than putting an asphalt bike path and retaining wall in an area that will have both present day and future ecological impact! There already is a paved bike path that should be sufficient for anyone. Please do the right thing for future generations!

Stacie Sherman - Trails are wonderful but they need to be built with the least impact to nature in National Parks. Huge retaining wall and paved paths are not the right infrastructure in a rare habitat. My guess is that whoever proposed this project with a huge retaining wall and a paved trail that will required hundreds of trees to be cut down is making money on this project.

Diane Kelly - There are alternatives that would have less environmental impact and significantly lower cost. This proposal goes against the initial purpose/principle of the Heritage trail.

Wendy Pountney - Leave the Dunes alone!

Matthew O'Donnell - Please reconsider the EA for this trail!

Larry Renew - Leave nature the way it was intended. You can still enjoy it without encroachment.

Mary Goodman - Although I no longer live in Leelanau County it was my home for over half my life, approximately 35 plus years. 26 years spent in Maple City. Please stop developing what natural area is left.

Iris Potter - This area is a national as well as a personal treasure for us. To clearcut trees in our national forest for this unnecessary project is horrific during this climate crisis. It would forever alter this park beyond…No to trail.

Susan Sunderman - Sleeping Bear is an amazing gift, one that cannot be "fixed" after the fact. Please leave well enough alone.

Michael Denny - As an avid mountain biker and road biker, I've always entrusted the trail makers to get the necessary studies completed before building their trails. We've waiting many years at StandingBoy in Columbus Georgia to have those studies completed. After receiving approval we finally have a great place to ride and always improving. If you can't do the assessment necessary to provide an accurate impact, you are doing those who care about their environment a great disservice and all you must care about is money.

Carey Dettman -Everything at Sleeping Bear should be maintained in its natural condition, not to make it “user friendly” for humans.

Dave Morley - It needs a lot more studies before what canted be undone is done

Stephanie John - It would break our hearts to see this project go thru.

Daria Duray - I have been there with relatives who lived close by to it and a cousin Dave who was a Dunes park ranger; it's beautiful and wild. For heaven's sake follow national Park guidelines to protect our wild America !! Macadam trails and cement walls go against that creed .

Maggie Cole - I grew up close to the dunes... Please don't destroy it's natural beauty for future generations! Let the trails remain untouched ... Protect natural beauty at any cost... Walls and pavement are NOT natural!

Koren Hurley - Asphalt is an unnatural, expensive,& maintenance intensive investment. Weave the trail naturally through tree and skip sensitive dune areas completely. Avoid ugly walls that interfere with natural dune movement.

Steph Singleton - There is only one reason why you shouldn’t pave this area. It’s nature which is natural and humans are an invasive species to Nature.

Karl Newkirk - Very poor usage of millions of dollars

Stan Clark - I grew up at family cabin on Little Traverse Lake..it should stay the same as nature created it...so stated when Government decided to condemn property of many in order to advance preservation of natural and unique area....

Cayce Leithauser - What an absolutely terrible idea for a sensitive dune ecosystem.

Mark Wilson - Absolutely no development or construction should be allowed near or through our national parks.

Shane Adams - Do what NEPA requires, and ensure the environment is cared for too

Stevie Kremer - Removing thousands of trees and paving areas of Sleeping Bear is in direct opposition to preserving our natural environment, resources, and wildlife habitat.

Timmy Pivonka - The beauty of nature needs to be preserved, we humans must strive to protect what remains of what we have already destroyed. We must learn from our past. We must strive to observe with little to no foot print left behind.

Sharon Crawford - Please don’t cut any trees, save the wilderness.

David Kadlec - Leave the park alone!

William Lomaka - The mission is to preserve and protect. What part of this do we not understand?

Darlene Stanley - The environmental cost of this small portion of the trail is too much.

Gloria Lomaka - No changes needed. Beautiful as is.

Sarah Porteous - Let’s leave nature as it is, we have plenty of outdoor recreation areas for people to bike and walk without aprons so much money to build a new pathway.

Sam Bromm - Please just leave nature alone.

Amanda Wieske - Segment 9 as it currently is planned is a bad idea. A new environmental impact study should be done before the trail is pushed forward.

Laura Dillivan - I am applalled at the lack of scientific research that is influencing the decisions being made by the NPS in regard to Segment 9 of this trail. Experts from the local area, who KNOW how fragile the ecosystem is, have clearly stated the detriments of this plan. The EA study, as recommended by numerous agencies, needs to be performed before this trail is created.

Carla Brewer - You actually think this petition will help? Haven't we learned our wishes are consigned to the crapper as these government agencies just look for whatever wil make the most $$$$?

Amanda Kuhn - I do not agree with the proposed Segment 9 Heritage Trail and that is why I am signing this petition.

Jody Qualls - Save the trees. Keep nature natural. Nobody needs more asphalt.

Frank Witt - I think it’s a waste of time money and material. The sleeping bear dunes need to be left as they are. Nobody wants a blacktop path.

Bobbe Sharp - Doesn’t seem to fit with the natural beauty of the area. Plus we need trees to counterbalance climate change.

Beckton Arlene - Please don't do this

Carol Price - Follow the environmental laws. Protect our wilds.

Chad Rubenow - We have a cottage in the south side of LTL. While the extension of the Heritage Trail won’t affect our property, we are opposed to it in its current plan. Disrupting dunes, taking down trees, and building retaining walls in a pristine wooded environment is not needed. In fact, in the additional renderings suggested by Borealis, I would welcome the path along M22. This would disrupt less natural area, and also provide a recreational pathway for us on the south side of the lake.

Lori Korson - I do not want our ecosystems disturbed!

Barbara Stamiris - The National Park mission is to preserve nature!

Joshua Toms - I am willing to discuss my views in person with any party/parties that wish to.

Sandra Evely - Leave the trail and trees, habitat alone. A retaining wall will take away all the beautiful trees, flowers, habitat.

Trish Marie - I'm an avid bicyclist (but also an avid hiker) but I do NOT support the current Heritage trail plan. Once pavement is down, the landscape is altered irreparably. The environment of the Sleeping Bear area is unique; bike trails are not. Surely in an area as rich with bicycling opportunities as the Traverse region is, there are alternatives that don't require destroying unique dune swale landscapes.

Jean Martin - Leave Michigan wild and outsiders who can’t respect that; stay out!!!!

Lucy Dueck - You cannot replace what you destroy. Ever. It takes millennia to establish mature ecosystems.  Segmenting them by a path for humans destroys the crucial connections.

Marjorie Tursak - Other options should definitely be considered. This is a beautiful area and all possible efforts to protect sensitive places are imperative.