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Barry County authorizes state grant applications for Bailey Nature Preserve and Charlton Park, commits matching funds
Summary
The Board unanimously approved submitting a $400,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund application for Bailey Nature Preserve with $177,000 in county matching funds, and a $150,000 Recreation Passport grant application for Historic Charlton Park with $151,500 in matching funds, as part of the county’s five-year parks plan.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners on March 25 authorized two state park grant applications and committed required county matching funds. The Board voted unanimously to approve Resolution #25-10 to apply for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant requesting $400,000 for park and accessibility improvements at Bailey Nature Preserve and to provide $177,000 in matching funds, and to approve Resolution #25-11 to apply for a Michigan Recreation Passport grant requesting $150,000 for Historic Charlton Park with $151,500 in matching funds.
Why it matters: Both grant applications are intended to fund park accessibility and improvement projects identified in the county’s five-year Parks and Recreation Plan. Securing state grants plus local matches would increase the county’s ability to improve facilities and meet accessibility requirements.
Details recorded in the resolutions: Resolution #25-10 states the trust-fund application is supported by the county’s five-year Parks and Recreation Plan and that a public meeting occurred on February 27, 2025; it specifies a required local match of $177,000, making the proposed total project cost $577,000. Resolution #25-11 likewise cites support from the five-year plan, notes the same public meeting date, requests $150,000 in Recreation Passport funds and authorizes $151,500 in local matching funds for a total project cost of $301,500. Both motions were moved by Commissioner Bruce Campbell (supported separately by Jon Smelker and David Hatfield) and carried on unanimous roll-call votes.
Public comment and context: During an earlier public comment period, Shelly Lake of Irving Township asked whether matching funds had been identified for Bailey Nature Preserve and Recreation Passport grants. Later in the meeting, Rick Moore of Irving Township thanked the Board for supporting Charlton Park and county parks. The resolutions note that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources was accepting grant applications through April 1, 2025.
Next steps: County staff will submit the two grant applications by the state deadlines and proceed with required local match accounting if the grants are awarded. The Board’s motions authorized the applications and the matching fund commitments.
