by Scott McClallen
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill funding 45 outdoor recreation projects with $23.3 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants.
“From camping and kayaking to swimming and snowmobiling, Pure Michigan offers us world-class recreation right in our backyard,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Since 1976, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has helped us protect our precious natural places and invested in accessible outdoor public recreation.”
House Bill 4437 approves funding for the 45 development projects and land purchases recommended by the board.
The Trust Fund board recommends funding to state and local agencies for development projects and land acquisitions that it believes will increase the quality and quantity of public outdoor recreation opportunities. This round of grant funding supports:
- Acquisitions of high-quality, unique wildlife and fish habitat for conservation and public access.
- Trail systems, specifically those – like the Riverwalk Trail and Crooked Bridge in Bay County – that have a broad impact.
- An extensive range of development projects that expand opportunities across Michigan for outdoor recreation, including the development of urban parks and playscapes, sports field enhancements and river access.
This year the board recommended $15 million in acquisition grants and $8.3 million in recreation development grants:
- Of the $15 million recommended to fund acquisition projects, $4.3 million will be awarded to local units of government, while the remaining $10.7 million will be awarded to the Department of Natural Resources for projects such as land consolidation at Jaxon Creek Headwaters in Grand Traverse County.
- All of the $8.3 million recommended to fund development grants would support 30 local government projects.
- Collectively, the $23.3 million of Trust Fund grants is matched with over $15.8 million of additional funding for a total of $39.1 million being invested in land acquisition and development projects across the state
The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is a restricted fund established in 1976 to fund public land acquisition for resource protection and outdoor recreation, as well as for public outdoor recreation development projects.
It’s funded through interest earned on funds derived from the development of publicly owned minerals, primarily oil and gas, and can only be used for public outdoor recreation.
“Since its inception, the Trust Fund has awarded more than $1.3 billion in grants to local governments and state agencies, greatly benefiting the quality of life for the people of Michigan,” Acting DNR Director Shannon Lott said in a statement. “By leveraging dollars from local government partners, the Trust Fund has dramatically influenced the quantity and quality of outdoor recreation opportunities available to residents and visitors of all ages and abilities while continuing to conserve our natural resources.”
Over the past 45-plus years, the Trust Fund has granted more than $1.3 billion to local units of government and the DNR to develop and improve public outdoor recreation opportunities in Michigan.
The Trust Fund board’s recommendations go to the Michigan Legislature for review as part of the appropriation process. The Legislature then forwards a bill to the governor for approval.
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Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi. In 2021, he published a book on technology and privacy. He co-hosts the weekly Michigan in Focus podcast.
