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YPSILANTI: Nearly $600k awarded for recreation projects
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Two recreation projects in Ypsilanti are set to receive grant funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust fund.
Officials from Friends of the Rutherford Pool and the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission were recently notified both projects will receive funds from the grant. The projects are among six to receive funding in Washtenaw County.
The $300,000 in grant funding will help build a new pool, which has not been replaced since the 1970s.
Lisa Wozniak, spokesperson for the Friends, said all of the planning was done in tandem with the city. As requested, the group will soon submit its business plan to the city and is in the process of creating its own 501-c3.
“All things required by the city are moving forward,” she said.
When the city ended its recreation department in 2003 due to budget constraints, the volunteers began maintaining the pool with financial assistance from the city.
Wozniak said the group, composed of volunteers, surpassed its initial goal of raising $200,000 in matching funds due in part to support from the community and donations from individuals and organizations. Most recently, the organization received a $20,000 grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s Youth Council.
“The community has been so amazing in support of this,” she said.
Wozniak said the project would not have happened without the financial support as well as political support from people such as Ypsilanti City Councilperson Michael Bodary who helped to get all city council members on board as well as members in both county and state government.
Groundbreaking for the new pool will take place in the spring 2012 and construction is expected to be complete by summer, she said. Continued...
Officials from Friends of the Rutherford Pool and the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission were recently notified both projects will receive funds from the grant. The projects are among six to receive funding in Washtenaw County.
The $300,000 in grant funding will help build a new pool, which has not been replaced since the 1970s.
Lisa Wozniak, spokesperson for the Friends, said all of the planning was done in tandem with the city. As requested, the group will soon submit its business plan to the city and is in the process of creating its own 501-c3.
“All things required by the city are moving forward,” she said.
When the city ended its recreation department in 2003 due to budget constraints, the volunteers began maintaining the pool with financial assistance from the city.
Wozniak said the group, composed of volunteers, surpassed its initial goal of raising $200,000 in matching funds due in part to support from the community and donations from individuals and organizations. Most recently, the organization received a $20,000 grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s Youth Council.
“The community has been so amazing in support of this,” she said.
Wozniak said the project would not have happened without the financial support as well as political support from people such as Ypsilanti City Councilperson Michael Bodary who helped to get all city council members on board as well as members in both county and state government.
Groundbreaking for the new pool will take place in the spring 2012 and construction is expected to be complete by summer, she said. Continued...
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Grant funding will also help fund an 8-foot-wide pedestrian bridge, now being called the Ypsilanti Heritage Bridge, that crosses the Huron River at the Michigan Avenue underpass.
The $289,400 in funds will help finance a fishing pier and the bridge, which provides a link between Water Works Park and Riverside Park and a piece of the Border-to-Border trail, a countywide initiative to provide non-motorized access along the Huron River within the county.
Other county recipients include the River Raisin Recreation Area, a $3 million land acquisition project that will focus on hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.
The county will receive $2.275 million to connect to urban nature preserves and in Ann Arbor, $300,000 is set for Gallup Park improvements and $300,000 to help fund the in-ground skate park at Veterans Memorial Park.
Steve DeBrabander, manager of the trust fund, said once created, the bill for the grant allocation has to go through the Legislative process and be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The bill typically is not modified by the Legislature because of the extensive review process required to choose those who receive funding.
He is expecting approval by May.
DeBrabander said $39 million of the $45 million in available funds were allocated to 99 projects throughout the state. The remaining $6 million will be carried forward to next year’s fund, which is from royalties from gas, oil and minerals produced on state-owned land.
Next year there will be a decrease in grant funding for the program that got its start in 1976 as the Kammer Recreation Land Trust.
According to the Michigan Constitution, 1/3 of the royalties were to be used to fund grants, with the other 2/3 going into an investment.
After the investment reaches $500 million, which is set to happen in June 2012, the money is to go toward the improvement of Michigan’s 99 state parks, he said. Continued...
The $289,400 in funds will help finance a fishing pier and the bridge, which provides a link between Water Works Park and Riverside Park and a piece of the Border-to-Border trail, a countywide initiative to provide non-motorized access along the Huron River within the county.
Other county recipients include the River Raisin Recreation Area, a $3 million land acquisition project that will focus on hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.
The county will receive $2.275 million to connect to urban nature preserves and in Ann Arbor, $300,000 is set for Gallup Park improvements and $300,000 to help fund the in-ground skate park at Veterans Memorial Park.
Steve DeBrabander, manager of the trust fund, said once created, the bill for the grant allocation has to go through the Legislative process and be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The bill typically is not modified by the Legislature because of the extensive review process required to choose those who receive funding.
He is expecting approval by May.
DeBrabander said $39 million of the $45 million in available funds were allocated to 99 projects throughout the state. The remaining $6 million will be carried forward to next year’s fund, which is from royalties from gas, oil and minerals produced on state-owned land.
Next year there will be a decrease in grant funding for the program that got its start in 1976 as the Kammer Recreation Land Trust.
According to the Michigan Constitution, 1/3 of the royalties were to be used to fund grants, with the other 2/3 going into an investment.
After the investment reaches $500 million, which is set to happen in June 2012, the money is to go toward the improvement of Michigan’s 99 state parks, he said. Continued...
Next year, the fund will only receive the interest from the $500 million investment, he said.
DeBrabrander said almost everyone in Michigan has benefited from the trust fund, which has helped finance many projects throughout the state.
“It really has made a huge difference in the state as far as people having an opportunity to recreate outside,” he said.
Staff Writer Amy Bell can be reached at 429-7380 or abell@heritage.com.
Text HERNews and HERWeather to 22700 to receive news and weather alerts to your cellphone. Msg and data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.
DeBrabrander said almost everyone in Michigan has benefited from the trust fund, which has helped finance many projects throughout the state.
“It really has made a huge difference in the state as far as people having an opportunity to recreate outside,” he said.
Staff Writer Amy Bell can be reached at 429-7380 or abell@heritage.com.
Text HERNews and HERWeather to 22700 to receive news and weather alerts to your cellphone. Msg and data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.
Two recreation projects in Ypsilanti are set to receive grant funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust fund.
Officials from Friends of the Rutherford Pool and the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission were recently notified both projects will receive funds from the grant. The projects are among six to receive funding in Washtenaw County.
The $300,000 in grant funding will help build a new pool, which has not been replaced since the 1970s.
Lisa Wozniak, spokesperson for the Friends, said all of the planning was done in tandem with the city. As requested, the group will soon submit its business plan to the city and is in the process of creating its own 501-c3.
“All things required by the city are moving forward,” she said.
When the city ended its recreation department in 2003 due to budget constraints, the volunteers began maintaining the pool with financial assistance from the city.
Wozniak said the group, composed of volunteers, surpassed its initial goal of raising $200,000 in matching funds due in part to support from the community and donations from individuals and organizations. Most recently, the organization received a $20,000 grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s Youth Council.
“The community has been so amazing in support of this,” she said.
Wozniak said the project would not have happened without the financial support as well as political support from people such as Ypsilanti City Councilperson Michael Bodary who helped to get all city council members on board as well as members in both county and state government.
Groundbreaking for the new pool will take place in the spring 2012 and construction is expected to be complete by summer, she said.
Grant funding will also help fund an 8-foot-wide pedestrian bridge, now being called the Ypsilanti Heritage Bridge, that crosses the Huron River at the Michigan Avenue underpass.
The $289,400 in funds will help finance a fishing pier and the bridge, which provides a link between Water Works Park and Riverside Park and a piece of the Border-to-Border trail, a countywide initiative to provide non-motorized access along the Huron River within the county.
Other county recipients include the River Raisin Recreation Area, a $3 million land acquisition project that will focus on hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.
The county will receive $2.275 million to connect to urban nature preserves and in Ann Arbor, $300,000 is set for Gallup Park improvements and $300,000 to help fund the in-ground skate park at Veterans Memorial Park.
Steve DeBrabander, manager of the trust fund, said once created, the bill for the grant allocation has to go through the Legislative process and be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The bill typically is not modified by the Legislature because of the extensive review process required to choose those who receive funding.
He is expecting approval by May.
DeBrabander said $39 million of the $45 million in available funds were allocated to 99 projects throughout the state. The remaining $6 million will be carried forward to next year’s fund, which is from royalties from gas, oil and minerals produced on state-owned land.
Next year there will be a decrease in grant funding for the program that got its start in 1976 as the Kammer Recreation Land Trust.
According to the Michigan Constitution, 1/3 of the royalties were to be used to fund grants, with the other 2/3 going into an investment.
After the investment reaches $500 million, which is set to happen in June 2012, the money is to go toward the improvement of Michigan’s 99 state parks, he said.
Next year, the fund will only receive the interest from the $500 million investment, he said.
DeBrabrander said almost everyone in Michigan has benefited from the trust fund, which has helped finance many projects throughout the state.
“It really has made a huge difference in the state as far as people having an opportunity to recreate outside,” he said.
Staff Writer Amy Bell can be reached at 429-7380 or abell@heritage.com.
Text HERNews and HERWeather to 22700 to receive news and weather alerts to your cellphone. Msg and data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.
Officials from Friends of the Rutherford Pool and the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission were recently notified both projects will receive funds from the grant. The projects are among six to receive funding in Washtenaw County.
The $300,000 in grant funding will help build a new pool, which has not been replaced since the 1970s.
Lisa Wozniak, spokesperson for the Friends, said all of the planning was done in tandem with the city. As requested, the group will soon submit its business plan to the city and is in the process of creating its own 501-c3.
“All things required by the city are moving forward,” she said.
When the city ended its recreation department in 2003 due to budget constraints, the volunteers began maintaining the pool with financial assistance from the city.
Wozniak said the group, composed of volunteers, surpassed its initial goal of raising $200,000 in matching funds due in part to support from the community and donations from individuals and organizations. Most recently, the organization received a $20,000 grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s Youth Council.
“The community has been so amazing in support of this,” she said.
Wozniak said the project would not have happened without the financial support as well as political support from people such as Ypsilanti City Councilperson Michael Bodary who helped to get all city council members on board as well as members in both county and state government.
Groundbreaking for the new pool will take place in the spring 2012 and construction is expected to be complete by summer, she said.
Grant funding will also help fund an 8-foot-wide pedestrian bridge, now being called the Ypsilanti Heritage Bridge, that crosses the Huron River at the Michigan Avenue underpass.
The $289,400 in funds will help finance a fishing pier and the bridge, which provides a link between Water Works Park and Riverside Park and a piece of the Border-to-Border trail, a countywide initiative to provide non-motorized access along the Huron River within the county.
Other county recipients include the River Raisin Recreation Area, a $3 million land acquisition project that will focus on hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.
The county will receive $2.275 million to connect to urban nature preserves and in Ann Arbor, $300,000 is set for Gallup Park improvements and $300,000 to help fund the in-ground skate park at Veterans Memorial Park.
Steve DeBrabander, manager of the trust fund, said once created, the bill for the grant allocation has to go through the Legislative process and be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The bill typically is not modified by the Legislature because of the extensive review process required to choose those who receive funding.
He is expecting approval by May.
DeBrabander said $39 million of the $45 million in available funds were allocated to 99 projects throughout the state. The remaining $6 million will be carried forward to next year’s fund, which is from royalties from gas, oil and minerals produced on state-owned land.
Next year there will be a decrease in grant funding for the program that got its start in 1976 as the Kammer Recreation Land Trust.
According to the Michigan Constitution, 1/3 of the royalties were to be used to fund grants, with the other 2/3 going into an investment.
After the investment reaches $500 million, which is set to happen in June 2012, the money is to go toward the improvement of Michigan’s 99 state parks, he said.
Next year, the fund will only receive the interest from the $500 million investment, he said.
DeBrabrander said almost everyone in Michigan has benefited from the trust fund, which has helped finance many projects throughout the state.
“It really has made a huge difference in the state as far as people having an opportunity to recreate outside,” he said.
Staff Writer Amy Bell can be reached at 429-7380 or abell@heritage.com.
Text HERNews and HERWeather to 22700 to receive news and weather alerts to your cellphone. Msg and data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.
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