Michigan House passes recreation funding bill

LANSING - The Michigan House of Representatives passed its version of Senate Bill 76 Thursday, which funds Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund projects across the state, including several in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties.

Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, praised the bill's passage, which would provide funding for 11 projects in his 110th Congressional District.

"I am excited to announce these projects, and eager to see this work start in communities throughout House District 110," Dianda said in a release regarding the bill's passage Friday. "Tourism is important to our local economies, and these 11 projects to improve our trails, beaches, parks and waterways will make the U.P. experience even better for our visitors and for those of us who live here, as well."

Among the projects receiving funding in the bill are four associated with the Iron Belle Trail, two of which are in Gogebic County and two in Ontonagon County.

The development of a Bessemer Township trailhead along the Iron Belle Trail, along with renovations to Memorial Park, in Ramsay will receive $294,800. Another $500,000 will be used to acquire six acres of land along Lake Superior that will both support the non-motorized trail - which is planned to run between Ironwood and Belle Isle in Detroit - as well as the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Coleman Engineering's Paul Anderson, who has been working with trail supporters to develop the Iron Belle Trail through Gogebic County, said the grants usually require a local match commitment of 25 percent of the project costs - with the remaining 75 percent being funded by the trust fund grants.

While 25 percent is the minimum, providing more in local matching funds increases the chances of a project being awarded grant funding, Anderson said.

Bessemer Township is currently designing the trailhead, with Anderson expecting the bidding process to take place this fall and winter. While the timeline calls for construction on the trailhead to take place in 2018, Anderson said the actual construction of the trail to Ramsay is scheduled for 2020 at the earliest. Once the trail reaches Ramsay, designers will begin focusing on Phase 4 of continuing it to Wakefield.

In Ontonagon County, $300,000 will be used to build a 76-foot-long cable suspension bridge over the Little Iron River in the Porkies. Dianda's release said the bridge is an essential component to the Iron Belle's hiking route, as well as the National North Country Scenic Trail.

The Iron Belle is planned to split east of Wakefield, with the hiking route heading north along the North Country Trail across the U.P., and the southern biking route following U.S. for most of the route - although it will leave the highway near population centers, Anderson said.

Ontonagon County will also benefit from $90,200 for trail improvements on the North County and Iron Belle trails from U.S. 45 to O Kun de Kun Falls on the Baltimore River. The improvements are expected to not only increase accessibility, but also curtail erosion and other "negative impacts" of the current trail, according to the release.

In addition to the $1,185,000 going to Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, the bill also includes a total of $1,350,000 for projects in Keweenaw, Houghton, Iron and Marquette counties.

While the bill must now be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, some grant agreements have already been issued on the expectation of the governor's signature.