The new path on Three Mile and Hammond, and where it goes next
If you’ve driven past the schools on Three Mile or Hammond this year, you’ve probably seen the construction. That’s a trail, 10 feet wide and paved, separated from traffic, going in along Three Mile and Hammond where there wasn’t a path before.
It matters to anyone living at Alta Vista, because Alta Vista’s entrance is on Hammond about half a mile east of the Three Mile intersection, where a lot of this work is centered.
What’s being built now
The first piece is a Safe Routes to School project from TART Trails and East Bay Township, with Norte Youth Cycling running bike safety programs along the corridor. It’s about 1.6 miles of path on Three Mile and Hammond that connects Cherry Knoll Elementary, East Middle School, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School and Grand Traverse Academy to the neighborhoods around them.
The plan also includes crossings with ADA ramps on all four corners of the Hammond and Three Mile intersection, a flashing beacon at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton entrance, a 35 mph school zone during drop-off and pick-up, and a small civic plaza next to the True North gas station. The Ticker reported in October 2025 that the funding was fully secured: a $1.5 million Safe Routes to School grant, just under $800,000 in state placemaking money, and $50,000 each from the Oleson Foundation and Rotary Charities.
Tree removal started in April 2026 and trail construction was scheduled to begin that June. 9&10 News covered the construction start on August 3, 2026.
Where it goes next
The bigger piece is the Three Mile Trail, which TART has been trying to build for a long time. It runs from South Airport Road down to Hammond Road. The first phase goes from South Airport to the Land Conservancy’s property and was targeted for the 2026 to 2027 construction season. The second phase, from the Conservancy property down to Hammond through Mitchell Creek Meadows (the Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve), is estimated for 2028 to 2029.
Those are estimates, and trail timelines slip. I wouldn’t buy a house because a trail is coming in 2029. The piece by the schools is funded and under construction. The later phases still depend on funding, including a countywide trails millage on the November ballot. When it’s all done this corner of East Bay Township ties into the rest of the TART network on foot or by bike.
And inside Alta Vista
Separately, Alta Vista is putting in a new walking path inside the community, scheduled for November 1, 2026. That one is inside the community, for getting some steps in without heading out to Hammond. (Pet rules on the paths are in the pet agreement.)
If you want to see where everything sits, the location page has drive times to the schools, the beach and downtown, and the lot map shows the homes and open sites. Or text me at (231) 360-1510 and I’ll walk it with you.
Checked against the sources linked above in October 2026.
Taylor Brown, Realtor
Real Estate One
Taylor@taylorbrownrealtor.com
