Recreation Grant Funding 2022

In 2022, Spicer Group assisted multiple communities across Michigan with successfully writing 11 different recreation grant applications totaling $4,138,100 that will help make recreation projects a reality. The grants were funded through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant programs, the Waterways Program Grant, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant, the Spark Grant, and the Trust Fund Development Grant. Since 2011, Spicer group has written over 128 successful grant applications totaling $35,672,690. The communities below have received their funding notices from the DNR and have begun working on designs for their projects.

2022 Grant Awards | $4,138,100 2011-2022 Grant Funding Success | $35,672,690

Liberty Harbor Marina Dock Replacement

City of Bay City

Waterways Program Grant

$300,000

The City of Bay City received $300,000 in grant funding for the removal and replacement of a dock at the Liberty Harbor Marina. The current floating docks were originally built in the late 1980s and are over 32 years old. They are in poor condition due to aging and deterioration. This is a multi-year plan which will start phase one of the dock replacements. The project scope for this phase and future phases will include replacement of dockage, gangway, head pier, and fingers.

Lake lansing Park North Boardwalk & Trail

Ingham County

Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant

$500,000

Lake Lansing Park North received funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to renovate a portion of the existing dirt loop trail in the park for people of all abilities. The highly popular recreation area project includes the replacement of many badly deteriorated boardwalks and improvements to the loop trail to make it universally accessible. The project will also include interpretive signage, benches, and mile markers along the trail.

Pondside Park Improvements

Hampton Charter Township

Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant

$375,000

This grant will be used for improvements to the 30-acre Pondside Park in Hampton Charter Township. The park spans about 30 acres and is a popular recreational destination in need of updates. These universally accessible improvements include the replacement of an unsafe playground, an accessible walkway, a 1.3-mile trail, the development of 5 acres of naturalized area, and the improvement of ADA-accessible parking. The improvements will be supplemented with benches, trash receptacles, and interpretive signage.

Hawk Island Boardwalk Replacement, Phase 3

Ingham County

Trust Fund Development Grant

$300,000

Hawk Island Park is located off East Cavanaugh Road in Lansing. The park was a former gravel pit that was developed into the County’s most popular park with over 500,000 visitors per year. The 30-acre pond at the park has a boardwalk running a majority of the length of the pond’s east side. Phases 1 and 2 were funded in previous years with grant funding; Phase 3 of the boardwalk replacement will be the last part of this project and will include a fishing pier and trail replacement along with the removal of the existing boardwalk. The original boardwalk is roughly 25 years old and was experiencing deterioration, wearing, and some heaving.

Riverwalk Trail and Crooked Bridge Restoration

City of Bay City

Trust Fund Development Grant

$300,000

The Crooked Bridge extends across the Saginaw River in Bay City from Bigelow Park (Middlegrounds Island) to Fitness Park on the west side of the river. Funding from this grant will be used to provide renovations and improvements to the over 30-year-old boardwalk bridge, such as new decking, repairs to the structural components, replacement and painting of railings where there is damage, new paved approaches to the bridge, and replacement of the lighting and electrical along the bridge. Some of the bump-out areas of the bridge will be renovated with lowered railings for universally accessible fishing, while others will contain benches or interpretive signage. There will be a universally accessible picnic node, and the parking lot at Bigelow Park will be re-striped with ADA parking spaces.

MSU to Lake Lansing Connector Trail

Ingham County

Trust Fund Development Grant

$300,000

This project will include 5,500 feet of trail connecting Lake Lansing Park North to the MSU to Lake Lansing Trail. The path will be made of crushed stone to ensure it is universally accessible. It will also have benches, interpretive signage, trailhead/ethics signage, mile markers, bike racks, and native plantings. This connector trail will provide a trailhead for the MSU to Lake Lansing Trail while still allowing the community access to the rich natural resources, nature, and experience of the parks and outdoor scenery that Ingham County provides.

SEBEWAING MAIN PARK PLAYGROUND RENOVATION

Village of Sebewaing

Spark Grant

$1,000,000

The Village of Sebewaing received a Michigan Spark Grant for $1 million to improve the Main Park playground. The current playground is made mostly of wood and is roughly 23 years old. It has many wooden posts and structures that are deteriorating and need to be replaced. The grant money will go towards funding an updated structure made of recycled plastic and metal to increase longevity. A new path will also be constructed to increase connectivity between park features.

Independence Park and River Access Improvements

Bangor Charter Township

Trust Fund Development Grant

$210,100

Independence Park in Bangor Charter Township is an 11-acre park with designated access along the Saginaw Bay Blueways Trail, which is part of a larger regional network of water trails. With a 10-lane boat launch on the Saginaw River, just shy of the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron, the park is very popular for boating and water-related activities. The Township received a grant to fund updates to the park and river access which will include a universally accessible canoe/kayak launch, a pavilion near the existing boat launch, access road improvements, access walkways to the new improvements, accessible picnic tables, benches, a trash receptacle, and landscaping with native plantings. The new features will all be universally accessible.

Bailey Bridge Historic Rehabilitation

Midland County

Trust Fund Development Grant

$300,000

The Bailey Bridge is a historic landmark and commonly referred to as Smiths Crossing Bridge. It is located off Smiths Crossing Road and stretches over 300 feet across the Tittabawassee River. The historic metal truss bridge was originally constructed in 1907 and has been closed to the public since 1989. Once rehabilitated, it will be part of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail, which is widely used for biking and hiking. Along with an MDOT TAP grant in 2020 and other funding raised through the Michigan Trails Fund and the Midland Community Foundation, the secured funding will be used to replace the historic bridge and will provide a non-motorized trail along Smiths Crossing Road from Saginaw Road to River Road.

Bennett Park Renovations and Water Trail Access Improvements

Hamburg Charter Township

Trust Fund Development Grant

$300,000

Manly Bennett Memorial Park in Hamburg Charter Township is a 384-acre park along the Huron River. The Township was awarded this grant to provide improvements to Bennett Memorial Park and the Water Access Trail. This project will provide key accessibility updates to the aging park which will include renovating the existing dirt path to an ADA-accessible crushed stone pathway. Other renovations are to replace the 20-year-old playground equipment, the existing restroom building to create unisex and accessible restroom options, and the addition of 12 new ADA-accessible parking spaces in the existing parking lot. Additionally, this project will improve the Bennett Park launch site of the Huron River Water Trail network by adding a paved path to a concrete canoe and kayak launch with accessible features. Other amenities added to the project include benches, interpretive signage, a drinking fountain, and a rain garden with native plantings.

Finn Road Park and Lake Access Improvements

Hampton Charter Township

Trust Fund Development Grant

$253,000

Finn Road Park is Hampton Charter Township’s main park along the shoreline of the Saginaw Bay/Lake Huron. This project will provide needed improvements to the park which has seen an increase in use over the past few years. The park is also along the Saginaw Bay Blueways Trail, which runs along the shoreline of the Saginaw Bay. The improvements include a new and updated playground as well as an accessible canoe/kayak launch. The park will also be expanding its parking with added ADA paved parking spaces. New universally accessible walkways will connect the parking, playground, and launch. The project will also include new benches and a trash receptacle. A vegetated swale with native plantings will be designed to filter stormwater and runoff before it gets to the lake.

SINCE 2011

Spicer Group has written nearly 130 successful recreation grants totaling over $35 million in funding assistance for: