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Houghton and Baraga Counties are among 36 communities in the state that will benefit from the latest round of Recreation Passport grants.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is providing $45,000 for upgrades to the Houghton County Arena.
The project calls for the development of modern engineered aluminum seating to improve spectator safety and provide access to persons with disabilities
The Village of South Range will receive $45,000 for the replacement of the obsolete playground at the Seventh Street Park, with new playground equipment, safety surfacing and an accessible walkway.
Portage Township will receive $39,700 to extend the existing warming house to add two unisex accessible bathrooms at the Dodgeville Recreation Area Rink.
Another $45,000 will go to the City of Houghton for the West Houghton Neighborhood Park.
The project involves constructing new barrier-free restrooms, a universally-accessible warming building, accessible parking, a junior size ice rink and basketball hoops for summer use.
Baraga County will also receive $45,000 for phase one of the Point Abbaye County Park Improvement project, which includes creating a new parking area with barrier-free spaces, a new barrier-free campsite and an accessible pathway.
Existing restrooms at the park will be removed and replaced with a new accessible facility
Also in Baraga County, the Michigamme Township Park Campground and Restroom Project Development at the 34-acre Michigamme Township Campground will be funded with another $45,000 to provide a new accessible restroom for campers, including new a well for water service and septic field.
The project will also provide a new accessible campsite with an accessible walkway to the new restroom building.
Overall, the DNR awarded more than $1.4 million in Recreation Passport grants to communities for local park improvements.
Here is the full press release from the DNR:
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that 36 communities across the state will share $1,461,500 in Recreation Passport grants. Funding for this program is derived from sales of the Recreation Passport, the $11 annual pass that grants residents vehicle entry at state parks and recreation areas throughout Michigan.
This year, Recreation Passport grant applicants sought funding for a broad range of public outdoor recreation projects, including playground development and renovations, sports and fitness facility development and improvements, trail and walkway development, park and picnic area improvements and improved access for those with disabilities.
The full list of grant recipients, grant amounts and project descriptions is available on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassportgrants.
Successful applicants clearly demonstrated projects designed to increase public access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities. The selected projects were chosen from a field of 77 grant applications seeking $3,053,000 million in funding.
“Recreation Passport grants support local units of government in their efforts to offer their residents and visitors quality recreation opportunities,” said Steve DeBrabander, DNR grants manager. “This funding enables us to work together to improve quality of life and tourism in communities across the state.”
Application materials for future Recreation Passport grants will be available by Jan. 1 at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants. Interested individuals also may call DNR Grants Management at 517-284-7268 or write to:
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Grants Management
P.O. Box 30425
Lansing, MI 48909-7925
Learn more about how the Recreation Passport gains you access to Michigan state parks and more at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
