Grants help Michigan enhance outdoor recreation opportunities

On Friday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation authorizing $28.7 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants. MNRTF grants create opportunities for quality outdoor recreation experiences, and fulfill recommendations made by the MNRTF Board at the end of last year.

“Over the past months as Michigan continues to combat COVID-19, we’ve seen just how important having access to public land, developed parks, trails, and outdoor recreation is for all Michiganders,” the Governor said. “In communities throughout the state, the Natural Resources Trust Fund grant program provides essential opportunities for people to continue to get outside and recreate safely.”

Southeast Michigan communities will receive more than $8 million to help acquire new parkland and develop our existing resources. This year’s round of grant funding reflects MNRTF’s continued support of:

• Improving universal access and providing inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities – with projects in Ann Arbor, Clarkston, Port Huron, and Hudson Mills Metropark.
• Enhancing access to our water resources for paddling, boating, and fishing – with projects in Mount Clemens, Flat Rock, Belle Isle, and Kensington Metropark.
• Connecting trail systems that have a broad, regional impact – with projects along Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail and the Detroit RiverWalk.

Congratulations to the many other communities receiving MNRTF grants this year! Ensuring that our parks and trails continue to develop and meet the needs of everyone in the region is a priority for SEMCOG. We developed the following resources to help you learn more about the region’s recreation system – to see just how much we have to offer, learn from examples in other communities, help plan for improvements, or support future funding opportunities:

• Southeast Michigan ParkFinder® – updated July 2020!
• Southeast Michigan Trail Explorer
• Access to Parks Analysis Tool
• Parks and Recreation Plan for Southeast Michigan
• Staying Safe in Parks During COVID-19 video
• Reimagining Outdoor Recreation in Response to COVID-19 webinar recording – May 2020

With support from MNRTF in 2019, the West Riverfront connection on the Detroit RiverWalk will link to the future Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park and newly funded May Creek Greenway acquisition. This connection provides elevated access over the water, near the former Joe Louis Arena site at the RiverWalk’s west end. A nearly $12 million project ($3 million of which came from MNRTF), it also includes funds from project partners including the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. Photo courtesy of Joann Castle via Michigan Department of Natural Resources.