LANSING, Mich. - Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) today announced that several counties throughout the Upper Peninsula have been awarded a total of $5.2 million from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) for land acquisition and recreational development projects. The funds were matched with over $1.2 million in local funds.

“With these funds we can work to restore and renovate some of the area’s most precious natural resources,” said Sen. Prusi. “By continuously improving our community’s parks and trails we can help our local businesses by attracting tourism and driving the recreational activities that are vital to the U.P. economy. This will create jobs while making more of our natural resources accessible for all to enjoy.”

The MNRTF projects in Sen. Prusi’s district include the following:

• Keweenaw County: Grant Township received $720,000 to add 122 acres of land with 830 feet of frontage on Lake Superior and 1,900 feet of frontage on Copper Harbor to Hunter’s Point Park.

• Delta County: The City of Gladstone received $100,000 for revitalization at Van Cleve Park including adding a restroom, fish cleaning station, façade lighthouse, walkway, paved parking and shoreline protection.

• Marquette County: The City of Ishpeming received $354,800 towards a development that will include the construction of a 2.2 mile segment of a non-motorized trail from Brownstone to Winthrop Junction as part of the 45-mile Iron Ore Heritage Trail; Republic Township was awarded $32,300 to purchase a parcel of land to serve as a trailhead facility for the Iron Ore Heritage Trail; The Michigan Department of Natural Resources received $3 million as part of the Superior Forest Partnership to acquire a working forest conservation easement on approximately 14,560 acres of forest land in Northern Marquette County; Marquette County received $198,400 for improvements to Perkins Park including a new park entrance building, campsite redevelopment, trail, access to Lake Independence, native landscaping, and accessible design for a playground; Powell Township was awarded $319,100 to build the Thomas Rock Scenic Overlook at a natural rock outcrop providing views of Lake Superior, a nature trail, observation deck, accessible toilets, parking lot, and picnic facilities.

• Gogebic County: The City of Ironwood received $46,300 for the construction of a skate park facility, Hiawatha Rotary Skate Park; The City of Wakefield was given $147,700 for the development of a trail around Sunday Lake from downtown Wakefield to Eddy Park, to upgrade the picnic area and restrooms and purchase new play equipment.

• Houghton County: Calumet Township received $20,400 for a development that will include an approximately ½ mile Lions Club Park Nature Trail around the north end of Calumet Lake; The City of Houghton r was awarded $22,000 to acquire .77 acres for a neighborhood greenspace park.

• Iron County: Crystal Falls Township will get $179,500 for Gibson Lake Park improvements including new access to Gibson Lake with a fishing pier and beach access, restroom/changing facility, pavilion, site improvements, camp sites, and an accessible trail.

• Dickinson County: The City of Iron Mountain was awarded $158,400 for the development of a scenic overlook, trail construction, road and parking lot, fence, site restoration, lighting, and signage for the Millie Mine Bat viewing site trail.

# # #