TART Trails has named Tom White its 2017 Mudgett Trail Pioneer.

The Jim Mudgett Trail Pioneer Award "honors those who give of their time, talent, and treasure to support TART Trails' mission of enriching the Traverse region by providing a network of trails, bikeways and pedestrian ways and encouraging their use," according to the nonprofit. The award is named for founding TART Trails board member Jim Mudgett.

White is a board member with the Northern Michigan Mountain Biking Association and lead efforts to create a Traverse City to Kalkaska Loop Trail, the first leg of which was showcased during this past summer’s Traverse City Trails Festival, an inaugural fundraising event for the NMMBA. Two decades ago, White helped build the Vasa Marked Singletrack and is currently working on re-routing the loop for an improved trail experience.

According to TART, "anyone who has spent time riding their bike in the woods in and around the Traverse City area over the past thirty years has benefited from the vocational trail work of Tom White, whether they know it or not."

The organization continued in a statement: "(White's) countless and selfless hours of building and maintaining trails has not only helped make the Traverse City area a mountain bike destination, it has helped foster collaboration between all outdoor recreation enthusiasts who live for a day in the woods."

The Jim Mudgett Trail Pioneer Award is presented annually at TART Trails’ Oktoberfest Dinner, a special gathering of TART’s Sustainer Circle of donors.