LANSING — A Breen Township project to renovate the campground at Stromberg Park on the Sturgeon River’s Hardwood Impoundment is among 60 recreation developments recommended for funding by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund board.

The state funding of $103,600 would provide 15 new campsites with fire pits, picnic tables and electric service, as well as better parking, walkways and a dump station. Some campsites would be fully accessible for persons with disabilities.

The township is obligated for a 25% match, or $25,900, but some of that can be through in-kind labor, said Mickey Beauchamp, township supervisor.

The 110-acre park, recently transferred from Dickinson County, is popular for swimming, fishing and for access to ORV trails.

“We should have a nice little facility,” Beauchamp said. “We’d like to make it self-supporting.”

Also recommended by the trust fund board was $300,000 for accessible bathhouses at two new campgrounds at the U.P. State Fair site in Escanaba. The campgrounds will be available to cyclists and hikers of the Iron Belle Trail, which is located on U.S. 41 adjacent to the fairgrounds.

The board has recommended to the state Legislature $25 million in grant awards for outdoor recreation development and land acquisition projects. Grant recipients have committed to providing matching funds of $17 million, bringing the total investment in outdoor recreation and conservation to nearly $43 million for this funding cycle.

Of the $14.1 million recommended to fund acquisition projects, $10.3 million would be awarded to local units of government and $3.8 million would support five DNR projects. Of the $11.5 million recommended to fund development grants, $9.6 million would support 51 local government projects and $1.9 million would support nine DNR projects.

The board considered a total of 160 applications seeking nearly $54 million in funding. In a competitive process, all eligible applications were evaluated on scoring criteria developed by the board.

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund — a restricted fund established in 1976 to support land conservation and outdoor recreation — is financed through interest earned on funds derived from the development of publicly owned minerals such as oil and natural gas.

Throughout its history, the Trust Fund has granted more than $1.1 billion to state and local units of government to develop and improve public outdoor recreation opportunities in all 83 counties.

“Over the past 40-plus years, the Trust Fund has improved the quality of life for people in every county of Michigan,” DNR Director Dan Eichinger said. “Trust Fund grants have leveraged additional dollars from local government partners to expand outdoor recreation opportunities, ensure the conservation and protection of our natural resources and fuel Michigan’s economic growth.”

The board’s recommendations will go to the state Legislature for review as part of the appropriations process. Upon approval, the Legislature will forward a bill for the governor’s signature.

More information about the final 2019 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund board recommendations is available at Michigan.gov/MNRTF.