Kalamazoo County trail system is subject of breakfast lecture
KALAMAZOO--Kalamazoo County's newest park, a multi-purpose network of trails for non-motorized transportation and recreation, will be the topic of the April Keystone Community Bank Breakfast Series at Western Michigan University.
Chris Tracy, Kalamazoo River Trail campaign co-chair and local attorney, and David Rachowicz, director of Kalamazoo County Parks, will discuss the history of the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail System, where it stands today and what the future holds in a talk at 8 a.m. Friday, April 27, in the Dean's Conference Room of Schneider Hall, home of the Haworth College of Business. Their presentation, titled "Kalamazoo River Valley Trail: Going Places," is free and open to the public.
The event begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the college dean's office at (269) 387-6059. Parking is available in the nearby Fetzer Center parking lot.
The Kalamazoo River Valley Trail is the newest Kalamazoo County park. The trail is free to use and features a 12-foot wide, asphalt surface. When complete, it will encompass 35 miles of trails throughout the county and be a regional hub, connecting Battle Creek to Lake Michigan and D Avenue to Portage. Fourteen miles have been completed, with the first section opening in 2008.
Chris Tracy
Tracy began his career as a trial attorney working as an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago. In private practice, he continues to litigate various types of civil and criminal matters ranging from intellectual property disputes, to complex corporate, commercial, health care and environmental cases, to defending against criminal charges.
He has represented businesses of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to locally owned businesses. He also counsels his business clients with respect to corporate matters, including business and family succession planning.
David Rachowicz
Rachowicz has served as the director of Kalamazoo County Parks and Expo Center since December 2004. Kalamazoo County Parks operates five county parks, the Kalamazoo County Expo Center and Fairground and the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. In 2011, Kalamazoo County Parks served more than one million visitors at its seven locations.
Rachowicz is a graduate of Ball State University, with a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Environmental Management and Outdoor Recreation Management. Previously, he was the parks director in St. Joseph County, Mich., for six years. He also worked in parks and recreation for Munster, Ind., and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The Keystone Community Bank Breakfast Speaker Series is underwritten by Keystone Community Bank. The series provides an opportunity for the local community to hear top business leaders and WMU faculty, alumni and friends of the Haworth College of Business discuss current business related topics.