Saginaw park gets grant funding from DNR

A park near Saginaw will be the recipient of funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, one of seven parks statewide to be chosen for 2011 grant awards.

"This year's grant recipients will build and renovate a broad range of public recreation facilities, everything from pavilions, bathrooms and baseball fields to boardwalks, fishing platforms and a community pool," says Steve DeBrabander, DNR Grants Management section supervisor.

Richland Township Park in, where else, Richland Township, will get $84,500 from the DNR's Land and Water Conservation Fund. That amount also will have to be matched by the township or other local funding. The money is planned to go toward the addition of a Frisbee golf area, shuffleboard courts, more fitness stations, a sand volleyball court, and paving of the parking lot.

The grant program actually is supported by federal gas and oil development funding, and administered in Michigan by the DNR. Its purpose is to help cities, counties and townships provide better outdoor recreation opportunities for the public and their residents. Across the seven projects, $550,000 will go toward that goal.

"Improvements like these will help local communities meet the recreation needs of their residents and keep people going outdoors," DeBrabander says. "The DNR is committed to working with local officials over the long term to ensure these projects become successful, valuable community assets."

The other locations receiving grants are Crawford County, Laketown Township in Allegan County, the city of Leslie in Ingham County, Lincoln Township in Berrien County, Plymouth Township in Wayne County, and Traverse City in Grand Traverse County.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source Steve DeBrabander, Michigan Department of Natural Resources