The state D-N-R has approved almost two million dollars for 18 projects around the state, including two in the Upper Peninsula.
The money comes from the Recreation Passport Grant program…that’s the money you pay to get into Michigan State Parks, recreation areas, and state forest campgrounds. There were 70 proposals from local communities, and the 18 were chosen on a scoring system.
The highest-scoring project was in Manistique Township, where there will be accessibility improvements made to the Environmental Education Lab. That includes six trails where people can hike and learn more about the forest, located about three miles east of Manistique off of Krummich Road. The state will kick in 63-thousand-4-hundred dollars for the improvements there.
The other U-P project approved was at the Hancock Campground, where the bath house needs renovations. The state will chip in 144-thousand dollars there.
The selected projects were chosen from a field of 70 grant applications seeking $7.3 million in local funding, the largest demand to date in the program’s nine-year history. Successful applicants clearly demonstrated projects designed to increase public access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities.
“Recreation Passport grants support local government efforts to offer residents and visitors quality recreation opportunities,” said Dan Lord, DNR grants manager. “Together, state and local governments work closely to improve quality of life and increase tourism in communities across the state.”
Funding for this program is derived from sales of Michigan’s Recreation Passport, required for vehicle entry into 103 state parks and recreation areas, 140 state forest campgrounds, hundreds of miles of state trails, historic sites, hundreds of boating access sites and other outdoor spaces.
