Spicer Group Aids Communities in Receiving Grant Funds
Parks and recreation projects across the state to benefit
In 2020, Spicer Group professionals assisted 11 communities across Michigan with successfully writing grant applications that garnered more than $4.3 million in funds to help make recreation projects a reality. The grants were funded through two different Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) grant programs: the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF), and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program. One was also funded through the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program. Since 2011, Spicer Group has written over 100 successful MDNR grant applications. The following communities have received their funding notices from the state agencies and have begun the next steps towards project completion.
Bunker Road Landing Improvements – Ingham County/Eaton County
$50,000 | MNRTF
The Bunker Road Canoe Landing is a park site located along the Grand River in Eaton County, but is operated by the Ingham County Parks Department. This project will renovate the landing’s existing wooden canoe launch, which was constructed over 35 years ago. The renovation will widen the stepped access launch, making it easier to traverse. This project will also expand the parking lot and add paved walkways to the park for improved accessibility.
Williams Township Park
Improvements – Williams Township
$50,000 | LWCF
An existing playground area at Williams Township park is over 20 years old and not fully accessible. This project will include the removal and replacement of playground equipment that will include universally accessible swings and a gaga ball pit, which is a new recreation opportunity for school-age children. Accessible walks will be added to the playground area, and a gate at the ball pit will be installed to allow access for wheelchair users. A rain garden and bench will also be added to the playground area.
Larkin Township Park Property Acquisition – Larkin Township
$967,300 | MNRTF
Larkin Township Park is an existing community park located along Jefferson Road behind the Township’s Fire Hall in Midland County. This grant will assist the Township in acquiring two addition parcels of land adjacent to the existing park site, adding to the park’s overall acreage. One parcel, located to the west of the park, is 72.4 acres of wooded land and open field. The other parcels, located to the east, is 80 acres of wooded land. The Township plans to develop the western parcel for parking, a playground, pavilion, and athletic fields. Plans for the eastern parcel include walking paths and interpretive signage.
Hay Creek Trail Bridge –
Hamburg Township
$50,000 | MNRTF
The Mike Levine Lakelands Trail is a 6-mile non-motorized trail and linear state park. It is part of a larger regional Great Lake-To-Lake Trail, which is 33 miles long and extends between Hamburg and Stockbridge Townships. This project will replace the existing wood decking on the trail bridge that extends across the Hay Creek, near Chambers Road in Hamburg Township.
Lighthouse Park Improvements – Huron County
$144,800 | MNRTF
Lighthouse Park in Port Hope is a very popular shoreline park in Huron County. This project will construct a new universally accessible canoe/kayak launch that will be part of the Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail. It will also replace playground equipment that was previously removed. A new fish cleaning station will be installed to replace the old and outdated one. The existing woodland path in the park will be made universally accessible and extended to connect to other paths in the park, and benches will be added. Accessible parking spaces will also be added to the parking lot with this project.
Smiths Crossing Historic Bridge – Midland County
$1,912,302 | MDOT TAP
This project will restore the Smiths Crossing Historic Bridge over the Tittabawassee River in Midland. The 302-foot-long bridge was originally built in 1907 by the Joliet Bridge and Iron Company and is one of a few surviving multi-span through-truss highway bridges left in Michigan. The bridge is currently closed to all users. This project’s restoration efforts will restore the existing elements of the bridge as close as possible to their original pieces. Once it is restored, it will become a part of the Great Lakes Bay Trail system and Iron Belle Trail route. The project will also include the construction of paved trail connections.
Recreation Property Acquisition – Village of Sebewaing
$130,600 | MNRTF
The Village of Sebewaing does not own any park property along the Sebewaing River that is close to the downtown area and allows residents and visitors direct access to the river. The acquisition of this 1.845-acre parcel of land will allow park visitors to directly access the water for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. The Village of Sebewaing plans to develop shore fishing, a canoe/kayak launch, and a small pavilion on the site in the future for recreation use opportunities.
Community Center Park Tennis
Courts – Ypsilanti Township
$176,200 | LWCF
This project will develop improvements to Ypsilanti Township’s 32-acre Community Center Park. This park features a playground, picnic tables and shelter, a gazebo, ball fields with bleachers and dugouts, and a six-acre wooded area. The six existing tennis courts in the park are more than 20 years old and have deteriorating pavement due to age. With this project, those tennis courts will be removed and replaced with both tennis and pickleball courts, including the playing surfaces, tennis nets, and fencing. This project will also include the construction of paved accessible parking, paved pathways, and benches. A rain garden will also be created near the tennis courts to collect rainwater from the site. Waste and recycling receptacles will also be added.
Lake Lansing Park South Improvements – Ingham County
$300,000 | MNRTF
Lake Lansing Park South offers visitors direct access to Lake Lansing in Haslett. This project will develop a new accessible canoe/kayak launch to replace the existing launch, which is only sand and grass. The project will also pave the existing gravel parking lot with two additional ADA parking spaces at the park. The project includes the construction of additional walkways to connect features for accessibility and a rain garden with native plantings as a natural way to drain the parking area and filter runoff.
Wickes Park – City of Saginaw
$300,000 | MNRTF
This project includes the development of the Saginaw Riverwalk – Iron Belle Trail (IBT) through Wickes Park in the City of Saginaw. The existing Riverwalk ends at the north end of the 92-acre greenspace of Wickes Park located along Wickes Park Drive near the Center Street Bridge and next to the Saginaw River. The park drive in Wickes Park will be converted to accommodate the proposed trail extension. The trail will include lighting along the entire proposed pathway. The existing parking lots will also serve as IBT trailhead parking.