How do you get from a pint on Bridge Street to a cookie on Silver Parkway without a car? Until this fall, there was no answer. The LAFF Pathway committee had said plainly that "there is no safe way for pedestrians, bicyclists and walkers to move between the two cities."
That changed on September 29, 2026, when the ribbon was cut on the ChoiceOne Bank Trail near Silver Lake Road and Jennings Road. Most of the route follows the north shore of Silver Lake. So downtown Linden and Fenton's Silver Parkway corridor are now two ends of one outing, and the lake runs along the middle of it.
The stretch of Silver Lake Road that kept the two towns apart
Silver Lake Road has always connected Linden and Fenton for drivers. On foot or by bike, the curve around the lake was the problem. When construction started in November 2025, the City of Fenton described the project as a shared-use path "along the north shore of Silver Lake," running beside Silver Lake Road from Jennings Road in Fenton to East Broad Street and Triangle Park in Linden. The plan at that point was to build the wooden boardwalk along the water first, working through the winter as weather allowed, and to pave the rest in spring and summer 2026.
What opened is about two miles of 10-foot-wide asphalt on the south side of Silver Lake Road, with wooden sections that bridge the low-lying ground. The City of Fenton's project notice puts the exact length at 1.88 miles. At the east end, the trail meets Fenton's existing sidewalks. According to the LAFF committee, the US-23 overpass on Silver Lake Road already had a sidewalk and enough room for a full non-motorized trail.
Triangle Park sits in the middle of a five-mile line
The trail doesn't start at Triangle Park. Phase One of the LAFF Pathway, finished in October 2020, already ran along Silver Lake Road from Argentine Township into Linden. With Phase Two open, the whole pathway is now more than five miles long. Downtown Linden is no longer where the trail ends. It's a stop partway along.
| Segment | Where it runs | What's there |
|---|---|---|
| Phase One, west end | Lobdell Road at Haviland Beach Drive, Argentine Township | Start of the pathway |
| Phase One, trailhead | Off Lobdell Road near the Linden Schools campus entrance | Trailhead parking lot |
| Phase One, east end | Silver Lake Road to the Linden sidewalk at Chestnut Way | Connection into the city |
| Phase Two | Triangle Park at East Broad Street, east along Silver Lake Road | Boardwalk and asphalt on the north shore of Silver Lake |
| Phase Two, east end | Jennings Road, City of Fenton | Fenton sidewalks and Silver Parkway |
The trailhead lot off Lobdell Road is the one parking area the pathway lists. From there, the full run east crosses Linden and continues around the lake to Fenton. If you live near downtown, it's easier to start on foot from your own street.
The Linden end is a Bridge Street lunch stop
Triangle Park sits on East Broad Street, so the Linden end of the trail is a short walk from the Broad and Bridge streets core where the town grew up. The City of Linden's business directory lists these places nearby:
- Linden Hotel & Crow's Nest, 122 E. Broad St.
- Linden Brewing Company, 117 N. Bridge St.
- Linden Coney Café, 123 N. Bridge St.
- Down the Hatch Pub, 207 N. Bridge St.
- Bridge Street Brewtique, 208 N. Bridge St.
- Ice Cream Garage, 106 S. Bridge St.
- Calabria Village Pizza, 517 E. Broad St.
The directory also lists Shirley's Cafe & Grill at 522 W. Broad St. and China Garden at 618 W. Broad St., farther west along Broad.
Once you leave the trail for Linden's sidewalks, a city rule applies. Linden City Council adopted Ordinance No. 429, which covers bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, skateboards and similar riders on city sidewalks and streets. Among other things, riders must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and in crosswalks, according to the city's fall 2026 newsletter.
The Fenton end is a shopping trip
At Jennings Road, the trail turns into sidewalk. The LAFF committee says the existing wide sidewalks continue on to the businesses along Silver Lake Parkway. So the walk from Linden can end with errands, not just a turnaround.
Silver Lake Park, at 16000 Jennings Road off Silver Parkway, is Fenton's largest park at 35.4 acres. The city says it's open year-round, with ball fields, courts, a beach, nature trails and picnic areas. Fenton's park page also notes that dogs aren't permitted there and points dog owners to the Thompson Road Regional Dog Park.
Places to eat and shop on and near Silver Parkway:
- Silver Pointe Shopping Center, 17005 Silver Parkway, lists La Marsa Mediterranean Cuisine, Crumbl Cookies and Hippo's Chicken, Ribs & Pizza among its food tenants. The same center lists Dunham's Sports, The UPS Store, Fenton Flowers & Gifts, The Gilded Nest and Magoo's Pet Outlet.
- Leo's Coney Island, 15010 Silver Parkway.
- Applebee's, 18115 Silver Parkway, near Jennings Road.
- Andiamo Pasta + Chops, 102 W. Silver Lake Road, Suite 100.
The neighboring shopping center lists VG's Grocery, T.J. Maxx, Michaels and Old Navy.
Taken together, the two ends of one stretch of asphalt offer a Linden pub lunch at one end and a grocery stop or a Crumbl box at the other, with a lake view in between.
Two downtown Linden dates give the trail a reason before the holidays
The calendar gives the Linden end a reason to make the trip in the next few weeks. The Linden DDA has set Small Business Saturday on November 28, 2026, with a Shop Hop and giveaway prizes downtown. The DDA also approved spending on downtown holiday decorations, lighting and Christmas trees for the season.
Linden's Holiday Happening follows on Friday, December 4, 2026, with a lighted parade and Frosty Fireworks. The organizers list the parade start as 7 p.m.
The Linden Mill is also being rebuilt downtown. The city's fall newsletter described a new elevator and stair tower, newly installed windows and interior staircases, and said the project was on track for "early winter completion." If you walk in from Triangle Park, the work is on your way.
Where the line goes after Jennings Road
The LAFF committee's next goal is a third phase down Fenton Road to the dog park on Thompson Road, which it is raising money for now. It also lists future segments on Owen Road, from Linden County Park to Silver Lake Parkway, and on Fenton Road, from Thompson Road south toward the City of Fenton.
In June 2026, Genesee County announced that the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation had committed up to $25 million over five years for non-motorized trails and sidewalks across Flint and Genesee County. At the September ribbon cutting, Mott Foundation President and CEO Ridgway White said his goal was to have every community in Genesee County connected by trails within five years, The Lasco Press reported.
The pathway began, The Lasco Press noted, with "a small group of interested local residents" who wanted a trail from Argentine Township to the City of Fenton. Phase One reached Linden in 2020. Phase Two reached Jennings Road this fall, and the Thompson Road dog park is the next stop the committee has named.
If you live within walking distance of Triangle Park or the Lobdell Road trailhead, I'm happy to talk about what this new connection means for your home's value. Jackie Stratton follows changes like this across Linden and Fenton, and your instant home valuation is a good place to start.
