A hiking trail at Canyon Falls in L’Anse Township was among the outdoor settings highlighted as the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommended a new slate of investments aimed at expanding recreation access and conserving land across the state.
According to an article by The Mining Journal, The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board has recommended that the Michigan Legislature approve 60 recreation development projects and 15 land acquisitions totaling $45 million to be funded in 2026, marking another significant year for public outdoor investment.
The recommendations follow a competitive review process in which the board considered 100 applications requesting more than $56.6 million in funding.
All eligible applications were evaluated using scoring criteria approved by the Trust Fund board, with the goal of directing money to projects that improve access to public outdoor recreation and protect important natural areas.
The panel’s recommendations include funding for both state and local agencies, supporting a wide range of development projects and land acquisitions throughout Michigan.
For this funding cycle, the board recommended $19.1 million for development project grants and $25.8 million for acquisition grants.
Within those totals, 55 development grants totaling $17,704,000 and 10 acquisition grants totaling $10,266,000 were recommended for local units of government.
In addition, five development projects totaling $1,430,000 and five acquisition purchases totaling $15,600,000 were recommended for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
“The Trust Fund continues to be a tremendous source of funding for important projects and land acquisitions across Michigan,” said Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Scott Bowen.
“Since 1976, more than 3,000 projects or acquisitions have been funded with the help of Trust Fund dollars, creating an outstanding legacy spanning nearly half a century,” Scott added.
Established in 1976, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is a restricted fund that supports the public acquisition of land for resource protection and outdoor recreation, as well as development projects that enhance public recreation opportunities.
The fund is supported through interest and earnings generated from revenues tied to state-owned oil, gas and mineral resources.
Over the past 49 years, the Trust Fund has awarded more than $1.3 billion through 3,015 allocations to state and local governments, helping to develop and improve recreation opportunities across Michigan.
“From a Keweenaw Heartlands land acquisition in Keweenaw County to a Salsinger Trailhead land purchase as part of the Joe Louis Greenway in Detroit, to dozens of development projects scattered all over our state, the Trust Fund is making substantial progress every single year,” said Dr. Brandy Brown, chairwoman of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board.
The board’s recommendations will now move to the Michigan Legislature for review as part of the appropriations process, after which an approved bill would be forwarded to the governor for signing, with the funding expected to support new trails, improved recreation sites, and protected public lands that attract RV travelers and outdoor recreation users across Michigan.