ANN ARBOR, MI – Ann Arbor’s ambitious plan for a new trail through the heart of the city will be the topic of discussion at a community forum Tuesday night, May 14.

The Treeline Conservancy, a nonprofit partnering with the city on implementation of the Treeline urban trail, is inviting the public to the premiere of a new video and update about the project.

The meeting is scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m. at the downtown library, 343 S. Fifth Ave.

Refreshments will be served and questions and answers will follow the presentation.

RSVP at info@treelinea2.org.

Mayor Christopher Taylor is expected to be among the speakers at the event.

The city adopted a master plan for the Treeline in December 2017 and the conservancy is now trying to raise funds to make the trail happen, with plans to break ground in 2020.

“It won’t grow without you" is the message at the top of the Treeline Conservancy website.

The city previously estimated it would cost about $55 million, and it’s expected to be paid for with a mix of public and private funds.

The envisioned 2.75-mile trail for pedestrians and cyclists would curve through the city and along the west edge of downtown, loosely following the historic alignment of the now-buried Allen Creek and the still-in-operation Ann Arbor Railroad tracks.

The city's tentative plan is to focus on implementing the northernmost portions of the trail first, including links to the Border-to-Border Trail along the Huron River by Argo Pond and continuing south, though different sections could be developed simultaneously.

So far, some developers have committed to allowing segments to run through their properties, such as a stretch behind The Yard apartments on South Main Street, and the conservancy has purchased another property along Miller Avenue for part of the trail.

The Downtown Development Authority also is planning to implement a segment of the Treeline trail in 2020 by installing a two-way protected bicycle lane along the east side of First Street.

The city also plans to construct a tunnel under the railroad tracks between Depot Street and the riverfront, which is part of the Treeline plan and could link with a future development and open space on DTE Energy’s riverfront property.