The acquisition of 4 miles of riverfront property in Waucedah Township in 2023 provided for creation of the Sturgeon River Scenic Park. Township officials completed the $2.1 million purchase with support from the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy and funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. (Superior Watershed Partnership photo)

To date, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has provided nearly $1.4 billion for land improvements and acquisitions across Michigan’s 83 counties.

Established in 1976, the Trust Fund has supported projects and lands at more than 3,000 locations.

Here are just a few examples of the outdoor places and recreation spaces supported by grants from the fund —

— The manually propelled raft at Kitch-iti-kipi — or “Big Spring” — at Palms Book State Park in Schoolcraft County. It allows visitors to cross and view the 200-foot-wide, 40-foot-deep natural spring and underlying limestone.

— Construction of a bridge and boardwalk at the Menominee River Recreation Area’s Piers Gorge Unit in Norway to provide Americans with Disabilities Act access.

A $150,000 Trust Fund grant in 2000 was used to build a manually propelled raft that allows visitors to cross and view the clear waters of the "Big Spring" at Palms Book State Park in Schoolcraft County. (Tyler Leiprandt and Michigan Sky Media LLC, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

— The award-winning Ocqueoc Falls Trailhead and Scenic Overlook in Presque Isle County, offering the first universally accessible waterfall in the U.S.

— Construction of the Pewabic Hill multi-use trail system just east of downtown Iron Mountain.

— Milliken State Park and Harbor, the Detroit Riverwalk and the Outdoor Adventure Center, a trio of destinations that annually draw millions of visitors to downtown Detroit.

— The purchase and protection of more than 4 miles of waterfront property on the Sturgeon River in Waucedah Township.

The Trust Fund has been enshrined for permanent protection within Michigan’s Constitution. It provides grants to state and local governments to purchase land for conservation or recreation, and for development of public outdoor recreation facilities.

Interpretive display panels at the Big Spring (Kitch-iti-kipi) at Palms Book State Park in Schoolcraft County. (Michigan Department of Natural Resources photo)

The program is financed through interest earnings on royalties from state-owned oil, gas and mineral leases and is administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

In addition to larger projects, the Trust Fund makes possible a variety of efforts to bring quality outdoor recreation opportunities to cities, townships and villages throughout Michigan — everything from pier harbor upgrades, shoreline beach expansion and trail connections to community skate parks, athletic fields and picnic pavilions.

“It’s an honor to serve as part of this board because we know the Trust Fund plays a massive role in helping communities create their vision for outdoor gathering spaces that support physical and mental health, anchor neighborhoods and help drive local economies and tourism,” said Chris MacInnes, chair of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board. “Clean, safe, welcoming outdoor spaces enhance the image of Michigan and residents’ quality of life, and that’s an investment worth protecting.”

The year will bring opportunities to learn more about the Trust Fund during meetings of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board and associated partner events and activities. Currently, the schedule includes a stop in Marquette on Aug. 11-12.

“When it comes to outdoor recreation, space to spread out and opportunities to connect with our state’s outdoor heritage, Michiganders know we’ve got something pretty special here,” DNR Director Scott Bowen said in a news release. “The brilliance of an idea like the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is that it ensures that money generated from nonrenewable resources, like oil and gas, is invested into permanent, renewable public assets such as parks, trails and conservation areas.”

For more on the Trust Fund, go to Michigan.gov/MNRTF. Additional 50th-anniversary details and resources, including an interactive map highlighting locations and details of Trust Fund-supported projects, will be added throughout the year.