DNR Announces Federal Grants for Tree Planting

young trees (photo from Michigan DNR)

a news release of Michigan DNR

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program is a federally funded program providing technical, educational and grant assistance to communities, nonprofits, educational institutions and tribes to build capacity for managing trees and forests in communities throughout the state.

“Trees are essential community infrastructure, and this grant program helps extend their many benefits to more Michigan communities,” said Kerry Gray, DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program grant specialist.

Trees play an essential role in improving the quality of life for Michigan residents. They boost air quality, cool our communities, lower energy costs and help manage stormwater. Trees also support the mental and physical well‑being of people who enjoy their shade and beauty, contributing to healthier, more resilient communities across the state.

The grants were awarded to 15 communities and organizations benefiting more than 1.5 million Michigan residents. The grantees will collectively plant and care for more than 1,200 trees, create inventories of city trees and develop plans to sustainably manage over 2,000 public trees.

The following projects in west and central Michigan received money:
• City of Albion: $75,000 for street tree planting, care and maintenance.
• City of Benton Harbor: $75,000 for street tree planting, care and maintenance.
• Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy: $75,000 for public tree planting and care.
• Village of Shelby: $20,345 to complete a public tree inventory and management plan to guide tree planting and maintenance activities in the village.
• City of Three Rivers: $75,000 for public tree planting and care to replace trees lost to the spring 2026 tornado.

See full news release


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Sparta Land Swap Will Create Trailhead

Sparta land being swapped (photo from Sparta Informed)

from Sparta Informed

The Village of Sparta, Michigan, has secured public access to more than 100 acres of parkland along the Rogue River through a property swap with a local business owner that will cost taxpayers nothing.

The Rogue River Park has long sought a way to create a trailhead with better services including a rest room and public river access. When the private owner of the property expressed an interest in buying the former ambulance building on Garner Street, the village suggested a swap.

The 101-acre property has sat vacant for 30 years and includes a large wetland area that supports the Rogue River. Property owner Chad Momber is paying an additional balance to the village for the larger building. The property already has a small building and parking area which can be easily repurposed for the trailhead.

Village Manager Jim Lower said the access may be open to the public as early as this fall.

See Fox 17 article


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Mason County Campground Trail Section Construction Begins

approximate route of the trail (from Google imagery with overlay)

from Mason County Press

Construction will begin this week on 1.1 miles of paved, non-motorized trail between Mason County Campground, through the Mason County Picnic area, to the Lake Michigan Overlook at the Consumers Energy Pumped Storage Project. The water body in the image above is the Consumers Energy pumped storage Lagoon bounded by Chauvez Road and Lakeshore Drive, south of Ludington, Michigan.

This is one link toward the long-term goal of connecting Ludington State Park to Pentwater on the Mason County Multi-Use Trail. $400,000 of the $1.1 million project is coming from the Michigan Natural Resouces Trust Fund.

During construction, the existing natural surface path will be closed. The portion north of Chauvez Road will be completed first, but the hope is to have the trail open before winter.

Mason County Campsite offers 56 sites. The radio-controlled airplane club operates Hull Field along the route. The picnic grounds and playground are adjacent to an excellent disc golf course.

See Mason County


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Pentwater-Hart Trail Phase 2 Funded

Pentwater Hart Trail

a news release of Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance

After nearly five years of planning, revisions, and perseverance, the Pentwater Hart Trail is celebrating a major milestone.

The City of Hart has been awarded Safe Routes to School funding for Phase 2 of the Pentwater Hart Trail. This project will extend the trail through the City of Hart, connecting to the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail and providing a safer route past the Hart school campus. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027.

The award marks an important step toward the group's long-term vision of creating a continuous shared-use trail connecting Hart and Pentwater. Planning is already underway for Phase 3, a 5.2-mile segment that will complete the connection.

See Pentwater Hart Trail


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Big Rapids Clay Cliff Trail Receives Grant

concept of accessible trail at Clay Cliffs (graphic from Independence Township Parks and Recreation)

Big Rapids, Michigan, has received a $391,400 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for Clay Cliffs trail which will involve the development of a ¾ mile universally accessible non-motorized waterfront trail within the Clay Cliffs Natural Area. The city will provide $167,800.

Clay Cliffs includes approximately 69 acres which currently includes unimproved nature trails that wind through forest and along Mitchell Creek. The new trail will be a loop, crossing Mitchell Creek twice.

Plans call for two footbridges, accessible overlooks, benches, interpretive signs and bird-information displays. The route is expected to support hiking, walking, biking, fishing, birdwatching and snowshoeing, creating a recreation corridor that can serve visitors across multiple seasons.

See Clay Cliffs Trails


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Lost Nation Bridge on the NCT

Enjoy this slide presentation of the building of a long-awaited bridge in the Lost Nation State Game Area on the North Country Trail. Click to view.



See Chief Baw Beese Chapter of the NCTA


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New Flint State Park Opens

Flint State Park (photo from Michigan DNR)

compiled from several sources

Related to yesterday's post about the Grand Traverse Greenway Trail, one end of that trail will be at the new Flint State Park.

A new state park is open in Flint, and it will energize the riverfront, create more diverse recreation opportunities and bring economic benefits to the city. The 230-acre state park is located along a three-mile stretch of the Flint River and a section of Swartz Creek. This is Michigan’s 104th state park and the very first in Genesee County.

Five park units - Chevy Commons, Mott Park Recreation Area, Riverbank Park, Vietnam Veterans Park and Happy Hollow Nature Area - and connector trails are being linked.

The plan includes the addition of a signature play garden on the east end of Chevy Commons where Swartz Creek drains into the Flint River. Some sections of the park are open, and work is underway on the site.

Genesee County Parks manages and maintains the site in partnership with the DNR, which provides high-level oversight. A permanent endowment was established through a generous collaboration with the C.S. Mott Foundation.

See Flint State Park


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Flint Begins Construction of Regional Trail

construction of Grand Traverse Greenway (photo by Jenifer Veloso)

compiled from several sources

Work has begun on the Grand Traverse Greenway Trail in Flint, Michigan. Phase one of this trail segment will start at Kearsley Street, connecting to the new state park in Flint, and end at Fenton Road near I-69. The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of September.

This project is one part of the Mott Foundation’s commitment to help expand non-motorized trails in Flint and Genesee County over the next five years. It is also part of the statewide Iron Belle Trail that spans 2,000 miles from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula.

The name, Grand Traverse Greenway, is confusing, but the trail follows a street of that name. This is not in Grand Traverse County.

The Mott Foundation has committed $25 million to support what may become a 364-mile regional trail system. The commitment supports a new strategic trails plan that the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission developed in partnership with local municipalities and with community input.

See Mott Foundation


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Big Rapids Adaptive Playground

adaptive swing dedication at Hemlock Park (photo from Big Rapids Facebook)

compiled from several sources

Big Rapids, Michigan, has opened the newly refurbished Hemlock Park area with the dedication of the Daniels Family adaptive playground.

Last year, Big Rapids added pickleball courts and an accessible kayak launch. Other areas of the park were also updated.

Most recently, a splashpad and accessable playscape have been added. Pictured above is an adaptive swing which accomodates wheelchairs. Families who have children with mobility issues actively seek out playgrounds where their youngsters can enjoy the outdoors and increased opportunities for exercise.

The community is certain that these additions will both benefit residents and draw tourists to the area.

See Big Rapids Hemlock Park


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Dreyer's 22-Mile Swim for Veterans

Jim Dreyer towing cannonballs (photo from M-Live by David Volk)

compiled from several sources

Jim Dreyer, who in 1998 became the first person to swim across Lake Michigan, continues to be an ultra swimmer at age 62. This weekend, he set a goal to swim 22 miles towing 250 cannonballs to bring attention to both the 250th birthday of the United States and the 22 veterans who commit suicide every day.

He began the swim in Lake Michigan at 4 pm Friday. His goal was to end at Whitehall’s Goodrich Park, for the White Lake Area Maritime Festival. The cannonballs will be used to build a veterans' memorial.

The swim went off course, and in order to complete it on time for the festival, Dreyer did adjust the route by getting in the escort boat for a correctional distance. Then he re-entered the water and completed the swim at 10:30 pm on Saturday.

All but one of the balls were in the towed dinghy. He carried one on his back in honor of his father, a WWII veteran. The total weight was 1500 pounds.

See Wood TV article


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Experience Silver Lake on Horseback

horseback riders at Silver Lake SP (photo from the Michigan DNR)

a news release of Michigan DNR

Experience Silver Lake State Park on horseback! As part of an ongoing effort to expand year-round recreation at Silver Lake, a shoreline horseback riding season takes place annually Nov. 1-30 (except Thanksgiving). This is at Silver Lake State Park, Oceana County, Michigan.

Equestrians can ride a predetermined route along Lake Michigan. A staging area, open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. is available.

Reservations open Sept. 1 at 8 a.m. at MiDNRReservations.com (use the equestrian tab and staging area filter) or call 1-800-447-2757. The cost is $10 per horse per day, with 125 slots available daily.


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Missing River Tubers Found Alive

rescued tubers (photo from Facebook)

compiled from several sources



Three people, two young women and a 9-year-old boy, have been found alive after being missing for three days.

They had been tubing on the Muskegon River (Michigan), but were floating in what were pool toys rather than tubes sturdy enough for river floating.

The father of one of the women reported them missing on Wednesday after she missed a medical appointment. He found their car with a broken window. It is unclear if that is related to the incident, but it caused speculation that there might have been foul play.

Their floats were found and a child's footprints, several miles downriver. A K-9 crew was brought in and the trio was located Friday afternoon about 0.75 mile from where the tubes were found in dense forest.

They apparently followed a trail from the river, but it led them deeper into the woods rather than to civilization.

Michigan State Police are happy to report this positive outcome.

Several other less spectacular rescues have taken place this week. Please plan well, check weather, increase your knowledge and recreate safely!

See WOOD TV report


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