Recreation funds: 906 Adventure Team to receive $150,000 check from Great Lakes Sports Commission to establish Marquette park
A group of bicyclists of many ages makes their way along a grassy area in Marquette County. (Journal file photo)
West End Ski & Trail shop on Pearl Street in Ishpeming hosted a weekly kids mountain bike ride on the RAMBA trail network in September 2019. (Journal file photo)
A group of bicyclists of many ages makes their way along a grassy area in Marquette County. (Journal file photo)
West End Ski & Trail shop on Pearl Street in Ishpeming hosted a weekly kids mountain bike ride on the RAMBA trail network in September 2019. (Journal file photo)
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MARQUETTE -- The Great Lakes Sports Commission will present a check for $150,000 on Wednesday afternoon toward construction of a bicycling and adventure park in the city of Marquette.
The check will be presented during an invitation-only event at the Barrel & Beam Brewery on Northwoods Road in Marquette Township, according to a Monday news release from the GLSC.
The park is the brainchild of the 906 Adventure Team and will be developed on two acres located just outside the group's new headquarters, referred to as its "base camp" adjacent to the city's east-side bike path.
The 906AT, a nonprofit organization aimed to empower people to discover the best version of themselves through outdoor adventure, has a website at 906adventureteam.com, while the GLSC is at greatlakessportscommission.org/.
906AT offers outdoor adventure youth programs and opportunities for adults ranging from world champion, elite to weekend warrior.
"We appreciate the funding and partnership from the Great Lakes Sports Commission to help us move our bike and adventure park forward," said Todd Poquette, 906AT director of adventure, in the release. "This park will help us fulfill our mission of providing a stronger future for our youth and become a national learning and development center for human empowerment and resilience."
The GLSC agrees.
"Our partnership and support of the 906 Adventure Team is a testament to our shared vision of harnessing the transformative power of sports and adventure to make a positive impact," said GLSC Executive Director Eric Marvin. "Together, we are not only enhancing the physical well-being of individuals but also creating lasting development that strengthens the fabric of our region."
In the past decade, 906AT has created three nationally recognized endurance events. It took a youth program that began with from one coach and five kids into a nationally recognized youth resilience development program serving 10 communities in three states and reaching more than 800 kids.
In Michigan, there are programs in Marquette, Delta, Iron, Gogebic and Midland counties, along with Lansing. In Wisconsin, these kinds of programs can be found in Brown, Eau Claire and LaCrosse counties, and in Ohio, there's a program started in Chardon.
Just this year, the GLSC has provided $450,000 funding to the following:
• Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau for the I-500 snowmobile race renovation project;
• Petoskey Winter Sports Park to become a year-round destination;
• Traverse City Curling Club for its opening of a clubhouse.
Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.