Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has Contributed Significantly to East Lansing Parks, Natural Areas
With seven grants awarded since 1995, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) has contributed significantly to the growth and enhancement of the City of East Lansing’s park system.
In 1995, the City was able to expand its park system by 22 percent with the aid of its first MNRTF grant. The $765,400 grant, combined with a 30 percent local match of $309,308, paved the way for the City’s acquisition of 91 acres of land for neighborhood and community recreation. Notably, the land acquisition created the opportunity for the City to establish its beautiful and ever-popular Northern Tier Trail, a 4.5-mile trail system that connects eight community parks and recreational facilities with several of East Lansing’s neighborhoods.
"Our initial grant from MNRTF in 1995 truly helped to get the parks and recreation initiatives in East Lansing going," said East Lansing Park, Recreation & Arts Director Tim McCaffrey. "Since that time, six subsequent grants have created important opportunities for the growth and enhancement of our parks, recreation, open space, greenways and trails system." In 1997, the City received its second MNRTF grant, a $375,000 award with a 25 percent local match of $125,000 used to construct a large portion of the Northern Tier Trail, from Tower Avenue to Abbey Road. This was followed, in 2004, by a third MNRTF grant of $117,600, which was combined with a 34 percent local match of $92,400 to construct a one-mile extension of the trail from the East Lansing Soccer Complex to State Road.
“Between land acquisition and trail development grants, the majority of our Northern Tier Trail system exists today because of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund,” said McCaffrey.
The City received its fourth grant from MNRTF in 2007, a $225,000 award with a 25 percent local match of $75,000 used to make improvements to East Lansing’s White Park. Improvements included paving the existing parking lots, renovation of an existing softball field, installation of the City’s first interpretive nature trail and installation of a beautiful, new picnic pavilion.
In 2008, the City received a series of three additional MNRTF grants, one to develop Hawk Nest Park in the City’s Northern Tier and two to expand and improve access to White Park. The development grant for Hawk Nest Park included $262,500 from MNRTF and a 25 percent local match of $87,500 used to install a playground, picnic pavilion, Northern Tier Trail extension and a habitat diversity project at the park site. The Hawk Nest Park development project is currently underway and is slated for completion in 2012. The two White Park expansion grants totaled $494,800; with a 25 percent local match $164,885, used to acquire 4.68 acres of land for future pedestrian access to the north and a new park entry.
“In the past 16 years, MNRTF has awarded close to $3 million to the City of East Lansing for its park system. Combined with local matches, more than $4 million has been used to expand and improve recreational offerings for our patrons,” said McCaffrey. “It is safe to say that East Lansing would look very different today without the financial support of MNRTF. The support of MNRTF has helped to significantly enhance East Lansing’s quality of life, while also preserving its natural heritage.”
About the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund – MNRTF has been in place since 1976. It provides financial assistance to local governments and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to purchase land or rights to land for public recreation and/or environmental protection. It also assists in the appropriate development of land for public outdoor recreation.