The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced more than $24 million in Spark Grants for parks projects around the state, and on the list are two big ones in Southwest Michigan.
The DNR said Wednesday Benton Township has been approved for a $1 million grant for what it’s calling the Euclid Adventure Park. That’s a new park planned for the Benton Heights area. Township officials tell us they’ll have more to say about the project later this week.
Also on the DNR’s Spark grant list is the city of Hartford, which is receiving nearly $870,000 for improvements at Ely Park. The city tells us the grant will be used for a parking lot along Michigan Avenue, new sidewalks, improvements to the pavilion, restrooms, new lighting, additional benches, updated landscaping, a pickleball court, and a small playground.
The DNR says its Spark Grant program was established to guide resources to communities and expand access to healthy indoor and outdoor recreation projects where there has been little or no previous parks and recreation investment.
