Wednesday morning, the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund (MNRTF) Board announced the 76 projects recommended to receive more than $23 million in grant funding. The Trust Fund is broken into three categories, acquisition, development, and small development grants initiative.

Since its establishment in 1976, MNRTF grants have funded the development and expansion of parks and public greenspace, the creation of viable trail networks, the provision of fishing access opportunities in urban areas , the protection of our state’s pristine beaches, forests and wetlands, the improvement of park and facility accessibility to ensure access for all—and much more.

Congratulations to the 20 MRPA member-projects that the MNRTF Board is recommending for funding this year:

• The following five MRPA members were recommended to receive a MNRTF Acquisition grant. Eaton County received $3,075,000 for the Crandell County Park Acquisition 
• City of Harbor Beach received $150,000 for the Judge James H. Lincoln Memorial Bathing Beach Acquisition 
• Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority received $229,000 for the Lake St. Clair Metropark Land Acquisition 
• City of South Haven received $665,000 for the South Beach Park Extension 
• Ottawa County received $130,000 for the Grand River Open Space Expansion Acquisition

The following eleven MRPA members were recommended to receive a MNRTF Development grant:  

• Berrien County received $300,000 for Silver Beach County Park Improvements 
• Dearborn Recreation received $280,000 for Rouge River Gateway Trail Extension 
• DeWitt Township received $78,000 for Looking Glass River Park Improvements 
• City of DeWitt received $64,400 for Riverside Park Improvements 
• City of East Lansing received $300,000 for Patriarche Park Playground Replacement 
•  Kalamazoo County received $300,000 for River Oaks County Park Improvements 
• City of Lansing received $300,000 Frances Park Trail Improvements 
• City of Marquette received $88,000 for McCarty’s Cove Permanent Restrooms 
• City of New Baltimore received $116,000 for County Line Road Non-Motorized Pedestrian Path Development 
• Shelby Township received $300,000 Riverbends Park to Macomb Orchard Trail Connection 
• City of South Have received $217,400 for Van Buren Trail Connection Development

The following four MRPA members were recommended to receive a grant via the Small Development Grants Initiative:

• Meridian Township received $45,000 for the Wonch Park Pathway Development 
• Muskegon County received $37,500 for Pioneer Park Playground Equipment 
• Ottawa County received $47,500 for the Grand River Accessible Kayak Launches 
• Sanilac County received $19,000 for Forester Park Accessible Playground Equipment

In addition, the Michigan DNR was recommended to receive grants towards the following projects: 

• $510,000 from the Acquisition Grant for the Wheeler Creek Property in Wexford County 
• $850,000 from the Acquisition Grant for the Cranberry Lake Property in Clare County 
• $450,000 from the Acquisition Grant for Public Land Access and Consolidation- Gate Property in Allegan County 
• $200,000 from the Acquisition Grant for the Public Land Access and Construction of Staszuk Parcel in Clare County 
• $300,000 from the Development Grant for the Oden State Fish Hatchery Development in Emmet County 
• $300,000 from the Development Grant for the Fred Meijer Ionia to Owosso Rail-Trail-Bridges 
• $300,000 from the Development Grant for the Pere Marquette State Trail Improvements 
• $300,000 from the Development Grant for the Fred Meijer Ionia to Owosso Rail-Trail-Surface
• $50,000 was awarded from the Small Development Grants Initiative for the Hunting Accessibility Initiative

Learn more about the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund at www.michigan.gov/mnrtf.