LANSING -- State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) today announced that the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board has allocated over $600,000 in grant funding that will enhance recreational and tourism opportunities in two Eastern Upper Peninsula communities.
DeTour was awarded $495,000 to be used toward purchasing 800 feet of waterfront property that will be developed for public use. Sault Ste. Marie was awarded $136,000 for two improvement projects at Ashmum Bay Park.
"The fact that we have access to an abundance of natural resources is what makes our way of life so special in the Upper Peninsula," McDowell said. "These projects will give our residents more opportunities to enjoy our great outdoors, and will make the U.P. a bigger draw for tourists and an even better place to live, work and raise a family."
Sault Ste. Marie will use its funding to develop the entrance to the Ashmum Bay Park, and to expand the park to an area that will eventually feature a waterfront trail system.
DeTour will use its funding to develop waterfront property into a recreational area for kayaking, a boardwalk with hand access fishing, a dock and a picnic area. The property will also be an endpoint on the North Huron Pathway, a planned eight-municipality hiking and biking pathway from DeTour to St. Ignace.
"This project is not only good for DeTour, but for the entire Eastern U.P., in the means of the tourism dollars and economic impact it's going to have," said Terry Nelson, mayor of DeTour Village. "Representative McDowell has always been very supportive of all of our ongoing programs. He's helped us on quite a few projects. He's a great guy."
The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board of Trustees recommended to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm that 65 recreation projects and land acquisitions totaling nearly $34.5 million be funded for 2007. The board considered 153 applications for projects and acquisitions totaling $75 million, which were competitively evaluated based on scoring criteria developed by the board.