A Michigan panel is recommending $25.6 million worth of grants for outdoor recreation development projects and land purchases.
The funding would come from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, which is financed with royalty payments by developers of publicly owned minerals such as oil and natural gas.
The fund’s board annually selects projects from a list of applicants for consideration by the Legislature.
The panel this year recommended $11.5 million for 60 recreation development projects including new trail segments, park improvements, boat launches and shooting ranges.It also supported 18 land acquisitions costing a total of $14.1 million, including parcels that could be used for recreation or that have high ecological value such as wetlands, beaches and dunes.
Grant recipients agreed to provide matching funds of $17 million, bringing the total investment to nearly $43 million.