Forest canopy walk in Kasson Township likely shelved

By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor

Eco-tourism guide Mark Evans will likely not pursue a forest canopy walk with views of the Glen Lakes in Leelanau County’s Kasson Township, the Glen Arbor Sun has learned. A site study conducted late this winter revealed that many of the ash trees on John and Wendy Martin’s 83 acres — perhaps as many as 60 percent — were infected with, or at least affected by, the emerald ash borer invasive species, which has decimated hardwood forests across the eastern United States. Only 40 percent of the trees affected were deemed treatable.

“You can’t have a canopy walk without the canopy,” said Wendy Martin, who confirmed that Evans revealed the dismal state of the trees to her in early April. The Martins had planned on entertaining a formal proposal from Evans once the site survey was complete. Instead, no formal proposal was presented either to the Martins or to Kasson Township.

Belle Tire CEO Bob Barnes, a friend of Evans and potential financier, confirmed that a canopy walk was now unlikely. Barnes said that the window of opportunity had probably closed. He suggested that, had Evans started six months earlier, he may have been able to save the trees.

Mark Evans was traveling out of the country, and unable to be reached for comment.

The citizen group “Friends & Neighbors of Kasson Township”, who expressed staunch opposition to the canopy walk, posted a celebratory note on its Facebook page on Friday: “It has been heard that Evans has pulled the plug on this project! YAY!!!!!”

Had Evans and Barnes decided to pursue the canopy walk, they likely would have faced significant hurdles from local municipalities and citizens. Kasson Township officials voted unanimously in early April to place a 90-day moratorium on special use permits within the township. The canopy walk likely would have needed such a permit.

Read more about Evans’ proposed canopy walk in our February feature story: “High in the treetops above Glen Lake?”