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Wayne County parks staff say MNRTF grant requires encumbrance on Benoit Dorsey Park; county must replace sold parkland to restore eligibility
Summary
Parks staff told the committee a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund condition requires a declaration that encumbers the canoe and kayak launch property at Benoit Dorsey Park; staff said selling encumbered land triggers penalties and that the county will need to acquire roughly $1 million in replacement property to regain grant eligibility.
Wayne County parks staff told the Committee on Public Services that a declaration and notice required by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) will encumber the canoe and kayak launch property at Benoit Dorsey Park, limiting future uses and helping preserve eligibility for state recreation grants.
Elizabeth Isler, chief of planning for Wayne County Parks, described the declaration as a standard condition of MNRTF grants. “The declaration and notice, basically, encumbers the property,” Isler said. County staff explained that selling encumbered parkland can trigger penalties under MNRTF rules and that the county’s ability to secure future MNRTF grants is reduced while encumbrances remain unresolved.
County staff said the remedy is to replace sold parkland with property of equal value; staff stated the replacement target is roughly $1,000,000. Staff also said the county has missed out on roughly $500,000 a year in MNRTF funding while its eligibility has been limited and that acquiring replacement land is a priority to restore grant access.
Parks staff framed the declaration as a protection mechanism to minimize future sales of parkland and preserve grant opportunities, and said the item would be forwarded to the full Board of Commissioners for final action. No public commenters spoke on the item at the committee meeting.
