Escanaba Offers Free Snowshoe Rentals as City Works to Groom Trails

Public Works crews prioritize plowing streets after major snowstorms, impacting trail maintenance schedules.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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The city of Escanaba, Michigan is offering free snowshoe and ski pole rentals to help residents enjoy the area's winter recreation trails, despite challenges the Public Works department faces in keeping the trails groomed after heavy snowfall. The department's priority is plowing city streets, leaving trail maintenance as a lower priority task.

Why it matters

Escanaba's outdoor recreation trails provide an important opportunity for residents to stay active and enjoy the outdoors during the winter months. The city's efforts to support access to these trails, even with the logistical challenges of maintaining them, highlights the value the community places on providing these amenities.

The details

Escanaba's Public Works department is responsible for grooming the city's recreational trails, including those in Ludington Park and the West Side Trail System. However, after major snowstorms, the department's priority shifts to plowing city streets, leaving trail maintenance as a lower priority task. This has led to delays in grooming the trails, especially given recent staffing shortages. To help residents take advantage of the trails, the city's Recreation Department is offering free 24-hour rentals of snowshoes and ski poles from the Catherine Bonifas Civic Center.

  • This winter has seen an 'abundance' of snow, leading to increased demand for trail access.
  • Last winter, the trails were 'fairly quiet' due to a lack of snow accumulation.

The players

Kent DuBord

The director of Escanaba's Public Works department, which is tasked with grooming the city's recreational trails.

Kim Peterson

The City Recreation Director, who oversees the free snowshoe and ski pole rental program.

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What they’re saying

“When we get an abundance of snow, our priority is to plow major streets, to plow local streets, to plow alleys, and then to plow bike paths. The recreational trail or anything that's park-related is kind of our last priority due to the urgency of vehicles traveling, pedestrians walking.”

— Kent DuBord, Public Works Director (wzmq19.com)

“Snowshoeing is low-impact. They can go as far as they want, they can go as long as they want, and they can take breaks. We do have some benches back there. We just think it's a great place for them to go and enjoy the outdoors.”

— Kim Peterson, City Recreation Director (wzmq19.com)

What’s next

The Public Works department plans to improve its trail grooming routine now that staffing levels have stabilized.

The takeaway

Escanaba's efforts to provide free snowshoe rentals and maintain its winter recreation trails, despite the logistical challenges, demonstrate the city's commitment to supporting outdoor activities and healthy lifestyles for residents during the cold-weather months.