By Journal Staff

MARQUETTE — Grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will revitalize two lakeside parks in Marquette County.

The Marquette County Planning Division was awarded $997,600 in Spark grant funding for the revitalization of Little Trout Lake Park at K.I. Sawyer.

According to an overview put together by the MCPD in July, project goals include establishing a community wellness hub at the location. The grant will also allow the county to provide safety and security features as well as amenities to make the park compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Overall, the document states, the park enhancements will “create a more enjoyable space for K.I. Sawyer residents and visitors.”

Specific improvements will also include the pavilions at the park, the lake trail, utilities, ADA-accessible restrooms, and road and parking enhancements.

Roof replacement on both pavilions as well as demolition of blighted buildings and structure is expected to take place in the next year.

These project were slated to happen in 2024 despite grant success, the overview stated.

Also, the city of Marquette has been awarded $458,800 from the Michigan Spark Grants Program.

The grant, administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, aims to revitalize the Father Marquette/Lions Lakeside Park area in Marquette.

The funding will also go to transform the former Marquette Chamber of Commerce building into a community gateway and trailhead.

The Michigan Spark Grants aim to help communities create, renovate and redevelop areas to create recreation opportunities for residents and tourists.

The project will rehabilitate the historic South Marquette area and the surrounding park space connecting the trailhead for several local and regional trail systems including the new cultural trail.

The program will see several components which will go into completion of the project. These include the paved trail spur to connect the trail to other regional systems, an ADA approved accessible bathroom, a trailhead information kiosk and entry sign using solar lighting.

The project will also see a reconfiguration of the existing parking lot for better traffic flow and improved stormwater management.

In addition, the city will also add green infrastructure to improve the landscaping of the area, as well as the addition of a public water drinking station for filling water bottles.

Funding for the project will be in addition to a recently awarded $583,000 grant from the Michigan Revitalization and Placemaking program the city received last week.

The Superior Watershed Partnership assisted the city with the grant proposal.

The DNR awarded nearly $22 million in Spark grant funding to 31 projects around the state. Spark grants are intended to help local communities create, renovate and redevelop public recreation communities in Michigan.

These grants support projects that provide safe, accessible, public recreation facilities and spaces to improve people’s health, introduce new recreation experiences, build on existing park infrastructure and make it easier for people to enjoy both indoor and outdoor recreation. It’s all made possible because of the Building Michigan Together Plan, signed in March 2022, which included a historic infusion of federal funding in state and local parks.

For more information on the Little Trout Lake Park project, see the Marquette County Planning Division Facebook page or visit michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/sparkgrants.