Iron Mountain Mayor Dale Alessandrini, left, and Chad Susott, president of Dickinson Trail Network, show a representation Monday of DTN’s payment to the city to close out the Pewabic Hill project. The 6-mile multi-use trail system, which opened last summer, was mainly funded through a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant, with DTN providing a 25% match. (Jim Anderson/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson Trail Network plans a $20,000 project to improve part of the Millie Hill mountain bike trail system, including the installation of Trail Armor, a new carpet-like material designed to reduce maintenance by preventing erosion.

Chad Susott, DTN president, gained permission Monday from Iron Mountain City Council for a Millie-On-Aire trail rebuild. Once completed, it should be “a marquee trail” for local riders to advance their skills, as well as a tourism draw, he said.

The Millie-On-Aire cost breakdown includes $12,120 for the purchase and delivery of 7,713 square feet of Trail Armor, $2,000 for cedar planks and hardware, and $5,950 in excavation work. The project will stay well within city property on the southwest side of Millie Hill, Susott said.

DTN plans to fund the rebuild through Public Space Community Places crowdsourcing with matching funds, Susott told the council.

PSCP is a collaborative effort of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity. It enables residents to use crowdfunding to develop projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC.

PSCP started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. To date, MEDC has provided more than $14.7 million in matching grants.

Trail Armor was mainly developed by Jarrod Harris, co-owner of popular trail destination Jarrod’s Place in Dalton, Ga. Along with mitigating erosion, it’s designed to provide a stable riding surface. As of last year, it’s been used on about 35 projects across the U.S.

Millie-On-Aire, Susott said, will bear similarities to the highly regarded Sendy Crawford downhill trail at Jarrod’s Place. The planned layout includes 10 jump features, six bermed turns, and a wood-planked roll-in with an 8-foot drop.

DTN’s Millie Hill Trailhead is a 5-mile multi-use trail system just east of downtown Iron Mountain and west of Park Avenue. It links to 6 miles of trails that opened last summer on the Pewabic Hill system, which is east of Park Avenue at East B Street.

The Pewabic Hill project weaves through 85 acres of city property that once held the Pewabic and Walpole mines. It was funded through a $183,200 grant to the city through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and required a 25% local match that came largely through DTN.

Susott on Monday presented $44,952 to the city to complete DTN’s promised obligation.

The Pewabic work was done by Quinnesec-based Iron Goat Trailbuilding LLC.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.