[DEQ] DEQ announces local grants for Great Lakes water trails

DEQ announces local grants for Great Lakes water trails

Feb. 19, 2015 

For More Information: 
Ronda Wuycheck, 517-284-5040, wuycheckr@michigan.gov 
Karen Tommasulo, 517-284-6716, tommasulok@michigan.gov 

The DEQ’s Office of the Great Lakes recently announced nearly $185,000 in grants to coastal communities and organizations to create and improve water trails in the Great Lakes.

These grants fund the second phase of Great Lakes water trails development, which focuses on increasing accessibility, promoting trails, linking local and regional recreation trail systems, and educating trail visitors about proper use.

The initial phase of the grant program provided $342,141 in federal grants to comprehensively plan for local, regional or statewide coastal water trails along the Great Lakes shoreline.

The organizations receiving awards are:

City of South Haven received $50,000 to install a paved pathway and floating launch with handrails and rollers to assist boaters with physical limitations. It also will add an accessible boat drop-off area and designated access parking spaces. This site is a key access point for both the Lake Michigan Water Trail and the Bangor to South Haven Heritage Water Trail. South Haven plans to leverage its trail system as a focal point in a tourism-centric economic development and downtown revitalization effort. 

Saginaw Bay Resource, Conservation and Development Area, Inc. received two water trails grants. The first grant, for $12,500, will partner the Saginaw Bay Resource, Conservation and Development Area with the Saginaw Bay Water Trail Alliance and the consultants working on the Arenac County and Bay County water trail projects to prepare at least 30 sites for construction and integration into the Michigan Water Trail system.

The second grant, for $45,850, will be used to develop marketing materials including a Saginaw Bay trail website, a promotional video, a trail brochure, posters, media information, a trail wayfinding signage plan, and social media in order to promote the Saginaw Bay Water Trail.

St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission received $5,000 to host a “field day” for National Water Trail leaders, the Southeast Michigan Water Trails Consortium, water trail grant recipients and various water trail recreation agencies to focus on Best Management Practices while touring key landmarks along the Blueways of St. Clair’s Island Loop Route. 

Land Information Access Association received $71,043 to help up to 10 communities leverage their trail assets for community and economic development. It will develop specific recommendations for each community as part of a Trail Town Master Plan that will also include a universal accessibility capital improvement plan and grant funding strategies for trail development and enhancement.

The DEQ’s Office of the Great Lakes Coastal Zone Management Program provides grant funding to help develop vibrant and resilient coastal communities through the protection and restoration of our sensitive coastal resources and biologically diverse ecosystems. Funding is provided, in part, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.