FY 2023-24 NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND LAND ACQUISITION PROJECTS

Priority	Project⁽¹⁾	Proposed Owner	County Location	Total Cost	Local Match	Trust Fund
1	Village of Lexington s Harbor Acquisition. Acquisition of approximately 0.14-acre of waterfront property along with dockage infrastructure situated over State-owned bottomlands. The Village of Lexington wishes to acquire the property and work with the DNR to incorporate the waterfront marina property into a larger park and harbor operation.	Village of Lexington	Sanilac	$468,800	$168,800	$300,000
2	North Branch Land Acquisition. Acquisition of five parcels for developing greenways and blueways for hike & bike paths, kayak launches, and scenic walkways, particularly those which would move forward the Macomb County North Branch Greenway (MCNBG) efforts. The properties are adjacent to the north branch of the Clinton River and are designated floodplain within the township s boundary.	Macomb Township	Macomb	1,060,800	318,300	742,500
3	Sycamore Creek Land Acquisition - Cavanaugh Road. Acquisition of approximately 3.47 acres adjacent to Sycamore Creek and the River Trail to enable landscaping improvements and potential trailhead use.	City of Lansing	Ingham	410,000	110,000	300,000
4	Cloverport Park - Clinton River Buffer Acquisition. Acquisition of approximately nine acres to expand public green space and provide a trail hub for the community. The property consists of forested land with steep slopes adjacent to existing City park land bordering the Clinton River. This property is one of the few remaining undeveloped parcels with Rochester Road frontage providing pedestrian connections to Rochester Hills and downtown Rochester.	City of Rochester Hills	Oakland	2,753,000	1,425,000	1,328,000
5	Black River Ranch Acquisition. Acquisition of approximately 8,850 acres of forestland that includes over 14 miles of Black River, East Branch of the Black River, and Stewart Creek corridor as well as three inland lakes including 150-acre Silver Lake, 11-acre Bush Lake, & two-acre Robarge Lake. The property is adjacent to the Pigeon River Country State Forest on nearly three sides and is in the heart of Michigan's elk range. In addition to elk, the property provides habitat for a variety of species, including white-tailed deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, woodcock, bobcat, coyote, snowshoe hare, and bald eagle. Public outdoor recreational opportunities abound on the property.	DNR Forest Resources Division	Cheboygan	18,000,000	15,000,000	3,000,000
6	Waverly Road Acquisition. Acquisition of 35 acres of wooded natural area along Waverly Road in Lansing. If acquired, this parcel would provide the City of Lansing increased park land along the South Lansing River Trail and a potential location for a future trail head.	City of Lansing	Ingham	680,000	180,000	500,000
7	Johnson Nature Center Preserve Expansion. Acquisition of approximately four acres of land contiguous with preserve property at the Johnson Nature Center in Bloomfield Township. This acquisition is one of the last opportunities to protect undeveloped land around the preserve and would increase the size of the preserve by 9%. The preserve is one of the only protected natural areas in the community and will be open to the public and area schools for nature interpretation and environmental education.	Bloomfield Hills Schools	Oakland	1,205,000	315,000	890,000
8	Rosy Mound Acquisition - Phase 2. Acquisition of a 127-acre dune site to the northeast of the existing 164-acre Rosy Mound Natural Area. The acquisition would create a 291-acre park on Lake Michigan. With 116 acres of State designated critical dunes, this park is known for its stunning lake and dune views, forested trails, and 3,460 feet of natural beach.	Ottawa County	Ottawa	2,346,000	704,000	1,642,000
9	Superior Greenway Nature Preserve Acquisition. Acquisition of approximately 162 acres to connect Superior Township-owned properties to form a contiguous expanse of 659 acres of protected land. Forest, wetland, and grassland habitats as well as over three miles of nature trails are planned for the site. The acquisition would provide a critical link in the Township's non-motorized pathway plan, enabling a 2.5-mile-long hiking trail from the Cherry Hill Nature Preserve to Geddes Road, where a trail would lead to the central Superior Greenway Nature Trail. The seven-mile-long Superior Greenway Nature Trail would ultimately connect with Washtenaw County's Border-to-Border Trail, a designated part of the Iron-Belle Trail.	Superior Charter Township - Washtenaw	Washtenaw	1,540,000	520,000	1,020,000
10	Brown Bridge Quiet Area - Spring Lake Expansion. Acquisition of 528 acres in two parcels, adjacent to the Brown Ridge Quiet Area with over 9,000 feet of frontage on Spring Lake. Approximately four miles of trail would be added to the existing trail system, including linkages to other regional trails, including the Boardman River Trail, North Country Trail, and Muncie Lakes Pathway. The property would be primarily open for hiking, cross-country skiing, and hunting but could provide future opportunities for mountain biking and other non-motorized recreation.	City of Traverse City	Grand Traverse	3,178,800	826,600	2,352,200
11	Middleville State Game Area Land Acquisition. Acquisition of approximately 124 acres for inclusion in the Middleville State Game Area. The property contains agricultural fields, forest, and a small wetland and provides quality wildlife habitat for species such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and small game. The property would provide recreational opportunities for hunting, trapping, and other wildlife-related recreation. In addition, acquisition would help preserve the natural landscape along a section of the Iron Belle Trail.	DNR - Wildlife Division	Barry	1,200,000	0	1,200,000
12	Rogue River State Game Area Land Acquisition. Acquisition of 144 acres for inclusion in the Rogue River State Game Area. The property has diverse habitat types including aspen and oak stands, grass fields, and an old apple orchard. Management of the site would further enhance the existing wildlife habitat for species such as wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbits, and pileated woodpecker. The property is adjacent to public land on two sides and would provide additional road access with a planned parking area off 20 Mile Road. The property would provide additional opportunities for wildlife-related recreation, such as hunting, trapping, and birdwatching, in an area with a low percentage of public land.	DNR - Wildlife Division	Kent	1,200,000	0	1,200,000
13	Doe Lake. Acquisition of 556 acres of forestland, including the entirety of Doe Lake (a sinkhole lake), in the Pigeon River Country State Forest. The property is notable for the diverse array of upland and wetland habitats, including northern hardwoods and aspen, as well as a pristine lowland conifer swamp. The project contains over 50 acres of emergent and forested wetlands and is in the heart of Michigan's elk range.	DNR - Forest Resources Division	Cheboygan	1,100,000	0	1,100,000
14	Betsie River Springs. Acquisition of 105 acres of forestland, springs, feeder streams, and over a mile of Betsie River frontage. The Betsie River, a designated natural river and Type 4 designated trout stream, is one of the State's best rivers for naturally reproducing Chinook salmon and a very popular steelhead stream that is stocked annually. The feeder streams on the property are home to wild, naturally reproduced brook trout, brown trout, and sculpin. In addition to springs and feeder streams, the property is a mix of upland aspen and hardwood, lowland conifer, lowland hardwood, and wetlands. It provides habitat for white-tailed deer, black bear, upland game birds, wild turkey, and fur bearing species. The riparian area along the Betsie River is utilized by many species as a travel corridor. The parcel also would provide public recreational opportunities including fishing, hunting, trapping, hiking, and snowshoeing.	DNR - Forest Resources Division	Benzie	620,000	0	620,000
15	AuSable River Scenic Preserve Acquisition. Acquisition of approximately 42 acres of scenic forest, wetlands, and bayou (backwater) area along the AuSable River just upstream from Lake Huron in Oscoda Charter Township.	Oscoda Charter Township	Iosco	365,000	95,000	270,000
16	Hessel Marina Expansion Project. Acquisition of a lot with structures adjoining the Hessel Marina, including 115' of water frontage, an historic building for use as a marina services building, and a garage to be remodeled into a new transient boater bath house. This acquisition would enable the township to significantly expand the marina facility with additional docks and boat slips.	Clark Township - Mackinac	Mackinac	996,000	259,000	737,000
17	Gransden Park Expansion. Acquisition of approximately 1.68 acres of land for the expansion of Gransden Park to enable the development of a connecting greenway between three Township properties. Gransden Park west to the Township Hall property and then to Harper Park which provides access to the Tittabawassee River.	Edenville Township	Midland	202,000	80,800	121,200
18	Rotary Park Expansion Along the Clinton River. Acquisition of approximately 3.7 acres of land directly adjacent to Rotary Park located on the north side of Utica Road and west of Hayes Road. If acquired, the property would be developed by the City as a public outdoor recreational facility.	City of Sterling Heights	Macomb	279,500	83,900	195,600
	AQUISITION PROJECT SUMMARY
	State of Michigan Ownership (5 Projects)			$22,120,000	$15,000,000	$7,120,000
	Local Government Ownership (13 Projects)			15,484,900	5,086,400	10,398,500
	TOTAL:			$37,604,900	$20,086,400	17,518,500

^([1]) Project descriptions provided by the Department of Natural Resources.

FY 2023-24 NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Priority	Project⁽¹⁾	Proposed Owner	County Location	Total Cost	Local Match	Trust Fund
1	Development of Covert Park Beach. Development project within Covert Park Beach to remove and replace the southernmost wooden staircase to Lake Michigan that is over 20 years old and has been damaged by time and high water. The stairs would be replaced with accessible ramps and overlooks with benches. A beach access mat would be installed at the bottom of the stairs to allow access to the water's edge of Lake Michigan for all users. Accessible picnic tables would be added to the day use area along the accessible trail to the ramps.	Covert Township - Van Buren	Van Buren	442,300	$142,300	$300,000
2	Cass River Trail Development. Development of a trail loop connecting to the Cass River Trail (also Iron Belle Trail) with amenities. The trail would provide a loop connecting to the Iron Belle Trail in two locations, downtown Bridgeport, and residential neighborhoods in the community.	Bridgeport Charter Township	Saginaw	515,400	215,400	300,000
3	Paul Henry - Thornapple Trail Improvements. Development project that would include improvements to 15,000 linear feet of the Paul Henry Trail; including repaving, the installation of waste and recycle containers; and composite benches. The trail system, when complete, will be 42 miles (68 km) long, running from Grand Rapids to Vermontville.	City of Kentwood	Kent	1,000,000	700,000	300,000
4	Rotary Park Pavilion Project. Development project for a pavilion and restroom combination facility at Rotary Park on the St. Marys River. The project also includes accessible walkways and adjacent parking. In addition to family restrooms, the project would feature accessible picnic tables, bike racks, landscaping, and a water bottle filling station.	City of Sault Ste Marie	Chippewa	460,000	184,600	275,400
5	North Channel County Park Waterfront Trail Access. Development to provide waterfront access on a formerly private parcel in Clay Township, now a public county park and referred to as "North Channel Park". The new park is along the "Bridge to Bay" regional trail and the "Russell Island Loop" on shoreline that connects Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. Features include restrooms, accessible pathways to fishing pier, and an accessible paddle craft launch.	St. Clair County	St. Clair	600,000	300,000	300,000
6	Niagara Woods Nature Area Development. Development at the Niagara Woods preserve, a 14-acre parcel on the Saginaw River along the Iron Belle Trail (also the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail). Development includes accessible trail, shoreline fishing access, nature play area, and hammock park.	City of Bay City	Bay	463,000	163,000	300,000
7	Paint Creek Trail - Bridge Renovation. Development of a single-span prefabricated 70-foot-long steel truss bridge on the Paint Creek Trail, a regional trail which is part of the Iron Belle Trail network. The bridge would replace a nearly 100-year-old timber railroad bridge. The bridge spans Paint Creek, southeast Michigan's premier cold-water trout stream. The renovation would greatly improve accessibility for trail users and emergency vehicles. The project is also supported by a Transportation Alternatives Program grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).	Paint Creek Trailways Commission	Oakland	978,900	678,900	300,000
8	Willow Metropark - Big Bend Fishing Area Renovation. Development project to enhance the Park's recreational facilities using universal access design principles. Improvements include a new fishing platform on the Huron River with benches, new paved walkways, parking improvements, picnic tables, grills, and trees native to Michigan. Willow Metropark, owned by the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, is a 1,532-acre park located in Huron Township in Wayne County on the Lower Huron River, a National Water Trail. The park is also located on the Downriver Linked Greenways East-West Trail, the I-275 Metro Trail, and the Iron Belle Trail.	Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority	Wayne	762,000	462,000	300,000
9	Porter Legacy Dunes Park Development. Development of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible boardwalk up to the top of the dune and a viewing area at Porter Legacy Dunes Park.	South Haven Area Recreation Authority	Van Buren	682,000	382,000	300,000
10	Renovation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Equality Trail. Development to increase the width of the MLK Equality Trail from the Kibby Road Trail entrance to Weatherwax Road. This trail connects to the Falling Waters Trail and is part of the Iron Belle and Lake-to-Lake Trail Systems.	City of Jackson	Jackson	600,000	300,000	300,000
11	Heart of Cedar Springs Playground Development. Development at Heart of Cedar Springs Park featuring universally accessible pathways, natural playground area, pavilion, parking, and universally accessible restroom facilities, as well as native plantings along Cedar Creek.	City of Cedar Springs	Kent	600,100	300,100	300,000
12	Historic Pedestrian Bridge Renovation. Development project within Richfield County Park to repair the historic pedestrian bridge that crosses the Flint River, connecting the north and south portions of the park. This bridge was erected between 1936 and 1937 by the Works Progress Administration and would be renovated to preserve its original features.	Genesee County	Genesee	406,000	106,000	300,000
13	Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area Accessible Trail. Development of a 1.25-mile accessible trail loop at the Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area. The trail loop would touch trailheads at Red Drive and North Long Lake Road adjacent to the Traverse Area Recreation Trail network. Improvements intend to provide viewing opportunities of wetlands across the site and address drainage and erosion issues.	Garfield Charter Township - Grand Traverse	Grand Traverse	668,100	368,100	300,000
14	Saginaw Valley Rail Trail Renovation. Development to renovate the existing Saginaw Valley Rail Trail that extends 11 miles from the Village of St. Charles to Saginaw Charter Township. Through Saginaw and Thomas Township trails, the trail connects into the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail which connects Bay City, Saginaw, and Midland, and is also an official connector of the Iron Belle Trail.	Saginaw County	Saginaw	500,000	200,000	300,000
15	Burchfield Park - Riverbend Natural Area Access Improvements. Development to improve River and fishing access at the Riverbend Natural Area of Burchfield Park. Features would include a universally accessible fishing dock, new stairs and launch dock at the River, bank stabilization, and paved walkways. The project also would include: a new boardwalk bridge over Peppermint Creek, paved ADA parking spaces, an accessible picnic pad with a picnic table & grill, an accessible bench, a pad for an ADA porta-jon along the walkway, and interpretive signage.	Ingham County	Ingham	500,000	200,000	300,000
16	Davis Bridge Park Water Access Renovation. Development project to add accessibility features to the park, resolve shoreline erosion concerns, and renovate water access and park facilities. The project includes a barrier-free kayak launch, an accessible fishing overlook, shoreline access improvements, additional parking, natural shoreline restoration, and enhanced amenities.	Mecosta County	Mecosta	428,300	128,500	299,800
17	Flint River Access at the Confluence of Swartz Creek. Development at the Flint River Watershed Coalition property. Features would include an accessible launch for public use by kayakers and canoers at the confluence of the Flint River and Swartz Creek. The project would expand support of the Flint Riverfront Restoration Project and Flint State Park via active environmental education, water quality stewardship, paddle programming, and kayak livery run by the Flint River Watershed Coalition.	Genesee County	Genesee	450,000	150,000	300,000
18	Development of the M-63 Lakeview Trail. Development of 2.1 miles of 10-foot-wide non-motorized trail from Higman Park Road to Monte Road along M-63 in the MDOT right-of-way.	Berrien County	Berrien	2,310,900	2,010,900	300,000
19	Development of Riverfront Park. Development of an ADA accessible kayak launch at Riverfront Park in Buchanan on the St. Joseph River.	City of Buchanan	Berrien	310,000	80,600	229,400
20	Point Abbaye Natural Area Campsite & Trail Expansion Project. Development at Point Abbaye Natural Area to enhance the visitor experience, making the site more accessible and protecting the pristine Lake Superior setting. The project would provide accessible pathways, parking, and picnicking to sustain increasing levels of visitation. Accessible rustic camping shelters at campsites provide shelter and protect the forest and shoreline from erosion.	Baraga County	Baraga	430,000	130,000	300,000
21	Development of Paw Paw River Water Trail Access. Development of a public access site on the Paw Paw River Water Trail in Hartford to provide barrier-free access to the Paw Paw River for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Plans also include reducing erosion and providing accessible parking for water trail users and anglers.	Van Buren County	Van Buren	405,300	121,600	283,700
22	Sanborn Park Development. Development to replace a 50-year-old inefficient boiler system with an energy-efficient model, create paved ADA parking at entrance, and renovate the bathhouse to remove barriers and increase accessibility. In addition, the project would restore the 40-year-old tennis courts with new surfacing for tennis and pickleball play, upgrade accessible pathways, and create a nature trail on the west side to compliment that on the east.	City of Port Huron	St. Clair	500,000	250,000	250,000
23	Development of Fruit Belt Rail Trail - East Segment. Development of a non-motorized 10-foot-wide limestone trail, to include benches with companion seating, and a comprehensive wayfinding & interpretive sign system. Project would also include a trailhead with a 19-car paved parking lot with rain garden for storm water management, bike rack, bicycle repair station, bench, recycling bins, and signs.	Oshtemo Township	Kalamazoo	356,000	93,000	263,000
24	Eliza Howell Park-Nature Exploration and Playground Project. Development of a nature-themed playground, including benches, picnic tables, play equipment, and nature interpretive signage. The play area would also feature landscaping native to Michigan and is intended to encourage children to explore the park's natural areas to learn about nature. The 250-acre park is in Detroit s westside and Brightmoor neighborhoods along the main branch of the Rouge River.	City of Detroit	Wayne	600,000	300,000	300,000
25	Development of Fruit Belt Rail Trail - Center Segment. Development of a 10-foot-wide non-motorized limestone trail to include benches with companion seating, and interpretive signage. Paved parking is proposed at 6th Street, along with recycling bins, a bench, and wayfinding signs. This segment of the proposed trail connects the Fruit Belt Rail Trail's East and West segments.	Oshtemo Township	Kalamazoo	450,000	150,000	300,000
26	Seven Mile Road Regional Pathway. Development of a non-motorized trail along Seven Mile Road connecting the regional I-275 Metro Trail to the Northville Unit of Hines Park. Along the route, the trail would traverse a portion of the township's 330-acre Legacy Park. The trail would create a 10-mile continuous non-motorized accessible loop between Northville, Plymouth, and Livonia, as well as the connection to the Hines Park Trail system going south. The project is also supported by a Transportation Alternatives Program grant from MDOT.	Northville Charter Township	Wayne	1,993,000	1,693,000	300,000
27	Development of Fruit Belt Rail Trail - West Segment. Development of a 10-foot-wide non-motorized limestone trail to include benches with companion seating and interpretive signage. Paved parking is proposed at 6th Street, along with recycling bins, a bench, and wayfinding signs. A trail connection to the O'Park Street cul-de-sac would allow safe access for residents in the adjacent neighborhood and surrounding area.	Oshtemo Township	Kalamazoo	200,000	52,000	148,000
28	River Bends Accessible Kayak Launch Park Improvements. Development of a barrier-free recreational area along the Clinton River Water Trail. This project would complement the accessible kayak launch at River Bends Park which is replacing a prior unsafe launch area. This would greatly assist adaptive paddlers as well as others with general mobility challenges.	Shelby Township	Macomb	239,500	75,000	164,500
29	Looking Glass River Access Site Development. Development of a barrier-free public access to the Looking Glass River at Laingsburg Looking Glass River Park. Features include circular drive with eight standard and two ADA-van-accessible parking spaces and an easy-slide dock system with composite decking to accommodate persons with disabilities. Accessories include signage at the entrance to the park and at the river's edge, solar lighting, trash receptacles, cement pad for porta-jon, and picnic tables located on firm, stable, non-slip surfaces.	City of Laingsburg	Shiawassee	300,000	100,000	200,000
30	Middle Macatawa - Trailhead and Connector. Development of the Middle Macatawa Greenway including a new trailhead at the roundabout near Hawthorn Pond Park and a 1.8-mile hiking and mountain biking trail creating a 15.69-mile trail to the Upper Macatawa Natural Area. Trailhead improvements would include an accessible restroom, parking lot, bike repair station, and rest area. The partnership between Holland Charter Township, Ottawa County, and the Outdoor Discovery Center will facilitate the new trail corridor along and over the Macatawa River via natural surfaced trails and boardwalks.	Holland Charter Township - Ottawa	Ottawa	1,300,000	1,000,000	300,000
31	Cook Road/Dort Hwy Shared Use Path. Development of a one-mile non-motorized trail connecting the new Dort Highway Extension Trail (along Cook Road) to the trail along Grand Blanc Road, providing a safe crossing underneath the I-75 Expressway. This trail also would connect to the Iron Belle Trail and is identified as a "Tier 1" project for continued expansion of the County-wide non-motorized trail.	Grand Blanc Township	Genesee	2,001,000	1,701,000	300,000
32	Abby - Radtke Lake Superior Beach Access. Development of a Lake Superior access site with beach pathways, viewing decks, parking, restrooms, and individual picnic sites. Each picnic site would be equipped with a picnic table, grill, fire pit, and parking off of Lakeshore Drive. The Abby-Radtke Beach features over 700 feet of public sand beach on the sunset side of Lake Superior, north of Ontonagon.	Ontonagon Township	Ontonagon	279,500	72,700	206,800
33	Blue Star Trail - Maple St to Beeline Trail. Development of 0.3 mile of the Blue Star Trail to complete three contiguous miles of trail connecting Saugatuck and the Village of Douglas with the north and south areas of Saugatuck Township. The 10-foot-wide asphalt and boardwalk non-motorized trail would provide safe transportation and recreation choices for the local communities while creating a direct regional link to the eight-mile Beeline Trail to the City of Holland. This segment runs from Maple Street through Amalanchier Park, north of the township cemetery, and ends at the Beeline Trailhead where Holland Street and Clearbrook Drive intersect.	Saugatuck Township	Allegan	1,078,400	778,400	300,000
34	Veterans Memorial Park - Boardwalk Renovation. Development to renovate and improve Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Manistee along the bank of the Manistee River. The project would update the existing walking paths, boardwalks, and fishing decks and add accessible parking spaces. The project would improve storm water treatment, including filtration, nutrient uptake, and infiltration using a constructed linear bioswale with native plantings prior to discharging to the Manistee River.	City of Manistee	Manistee	605,000	305,000	300,000
35	Spring Lake Park - Restroom and Fishing Platform Renovation. Development of Spring Lake Park to include renovating existing features including the parking lot, restroom, walkways, and fishing platform on Spring Lake. The park serves as a trailhead for the Little Traverse Wheelway and the Northwest State Regional Trail.	Bear Creek Township	Emmet	532,000	232,000	300,000
	DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SUMMARY
	State of Michigan Ownership (0 Projects)			$0	$0	$0
	Local Government Ownership (35 Projects)			23,946,700	14,126,100	9,820,600
	TOTAL:			23,946,700	14,126,100	9,820,600
	ACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SUMMARY
	State of Michigan Ownership (5 Projects)			$22,120,000	$15,000,000	$7,120,000
	Local Government Ownership (48 Projects)			$39,431,600	$19,212,500	$20,219,100
	TOTAL:			$61,551,600	$34,212,500	$27,339,100

⁽¹⁾ Project descriptions provided by the DNR.

FY 2023-24 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF)
Projects	Number of Projects	Total Cost	Local Match	Trust Fund
Acquisition Projects
State-owned	5	$22,120,000	$15,000,000	$7,120,000
Local Government	13	15,484,900	5,086,400	10,398,500
Subtotal Acquisition Projects	18	$37,604,900	$20,086,400	17,518,500

Development Projects
State-owned	0	$0	$0	$0
Local Government	35	23,946,700	14,126,100	9,820,600
Subtotal Development Projects	35	23,946,700	14,126,100	9,820,600

TOTAL	53	$61,551,600	$34,212,500	$27,339,100